Back To Normal
About 2 months later
Max had just returned home from Jam Pony. She closed the door behind her and switched the T.V on, Max generally just didn't do T.V but since the Jam Pony situation she made a habit of watching the 5:30 news to see what the world was saying about the transgenics. The news reporter was blabbing away about something. The screen flickered to a pair of familiar blue eyes. Odd she thought, Logan doesn't usually do his broadcasts this early.
This is a streaming freedom video bulletin. The cable hack will last exactly 60 seconds. It cannot be traced, it cannot be stopped and it is the only free voice left in the city. This is a very urgent message. Max Guevara you are required to report to Logan Cale's apartment as there is a Chicken casserole and a bottle of pre-pulse Chardonnay waiting for you, which is extreme danger of getting cold. This has been a streaming freedom video bulletin Peace out.
Max let out a small giggle as she threw her Jacket on. O.C Walked through the door jut as she was leaving.
"Hey, im going over to Logan's place, catch ya later at Crash ok? Max said as she closed the door behind her and walked down the stairs and jumped on her Ninja and drove over to Logan's new apartment, which wasn't really all that different to his old apartment. He didn't have enough money to by himself a new place but Max had heard enough of his moaning about Joshua's place, so she acquired some money from a gang that eyes only had been trying to bring down about a month ago to help him pay for it. She pulled up at the side of the road and took the elevator to the top floor.
"Hey you" she smiled at Logan.
"Hey yourself" Logan replied.
"Place is looking pretty good, is that one of Joshua's paintings over there?"
"Yeah, he heard I was getting a new place so he decided to give me a house warming gift"
"Awesome" she smiled "anyway where's this food I was promised"
"Already waiting for you" Logan led her over to the table and poured her a glass of wine before they both took a seat
"Wow, this is pretty damn good" Max complimented Logan as she took another bite
"Well of course it is, it was cooked by the one and only Logan Cale" he added
They both finished their meal while engulfed in conversation. When they had both finished Logan led her over to the window.
"Close your eyes" He said
Realizing what he as hinting at, she covered her eyes. Logan pulled on a pair of white surgical gloves "What is it, It's a new carburettor isn't it" she continued smiling
"No"
"Is it jewellery?"
"Yes actually, it is" he replied revealing a small box in his hand"
"Happy Birthday" Logan continued
"What? it's not my birthday"
"Yes it is. Lydecker was kind enough to leave his database behind the night you were recaptured. Says it right here in your file. June 23rd"
Logan flipped the box open to reveal a diamond encrusted pendant. He moved over to max and placed it around her neck.
"Logan, I love it. Thank you" She smiled "I would hug you or something but well, you know" she trailed off.
"So, you gonna keep this one or sell it?" Logan joked
"I might just keep this one" Max smiled back "thanks for this Logan, but I'd better be going, im supposed to be meeting O.C at crash, catch ya later"
Familiar headquarters: Unknown location
The high priestess approached white. "Brother White there has been some complications. We have uncovered some more of sandman's data which could endanger the coming" She handed a collection of papers to White he glanced through them "Can you take care of this brother White?"
"Yes, I can. Fe'nos tol." He said to the priestess as he walked away and pulled out his cell phone "Otto, forget what I said. I need you to assemble a team and meet me in an hour". White didn't even wait for a response and put his phone away and walked over to his car
Crash, Seattle
"Over here boo" O.C Waved and max made her way over to the table where O.C, Sketchy, Alec, and the rest of the Jam pony crew were sitting "Happy birthday" they all said in unison
"What, how did you know?" Max grinned
"Logan told us" Sketchy replied.
"We all chipped in to get you this, even Alec" sketchy said as he revealed a leather jacket and handed it to max
"We all thought you could do with a new one after your old one got ruined in the sewers" Alec continued
"Thanks guys, its great" Max Smiled. I really have been missing out for the past 20 years of my life
Max then turned to see who was sat to the left of Sketchy "Herbal my brotha, what are you doing here" she asked
"Hello max, good to see you. What can I say, I got bored of L.A and decided to come back and see you all"
"Good to see you too" she replied as she hugged him
They all spent the rest of the night at crash. For the first time in a very long time max felt just like an ordinary girl…………….
The following morning
"Bip Bip Bip! There are packages to be delivered people. Surprise Surprise, late as usual" Normal shouted, who was looking a little more stressed then usual as max strolled through the door
"Sorry, my dog swallowed my keys" Max replied grinning. Normal threw a package at her as O.C approached Normal
"Normal" She began "You know how we've been a little short handed lately, What would you say if I told you that I knew of someone who has had 10 years experience delivering packages, Knows the streets of Seattle better than any of us here, and is willing to start right now"
"I would call you a saint" He replied. O.C waved her arm and Herbal appeared from around the corner
"Oh no, no way, its not happening, we may be desperate, but not that desperate"
"Come on Normal" Max said sweetly
"NO, I Fired him for smoking illegal substances in the restroom, and it wasn't the first time, its not happening. Not now. Not ever"
"I promise there will be no more of that brother" Herbal continued
"Oh come on normal, think of everything he has done for us" O.C made on last attempt
"Fine then, but I've got my eye on you, and this is only because we really need someone. Hot run" Normal added, throwing a package at Herbal before disappearing.
"Thank you brother" Herbal shouted.
"Its All good" Max added.
"All the Time" Herbal Finished.
Max strolled out of the doors and grabbed her bike, as with any other day, she had no intention of delivering her packages in a hurry, after all this was the one time of day when she could just relax and be herself, she always chose to take to 'long' route and just watch the world around her. Through out the whole morning she only delivered two packages. I have no idea why normal hasn't fired my ass yet. She thought
At lunch she made her way over to crash where Logan had asked her to meet him when she noticed Alec walking in the same direction. "Hey Maxie, where are you heading" He asked
"Don't call me that, and I'm going to Crash, Logan asked me to meet him there" Max said.
"Well looks like I get to spend my lunch time with you again, oh the unrelentless joy, Logan asked me to give up an hour of my life too"
"Yea, I'm so exited about spending my lunch break with you" max hit him across the back of the head.
They walked into Crash where Logan, Matt Sung, Bling, Asha and about 2 other people who max vaguely recognised, And another 4 who she had never seen. Max took a seat beside Logan, and Alec one beside Max, Both of them wondering what was going on.
"Hey" Logan greeted them both "well I guess you are all wondering why you are here. Me Bling, and Eyes Only have been talking and we decided that we need to get the eyes only informant net back together.
"This involves me how?" Alec interrupted
"Well, you've unintentionally accompanied Max on a few eyes only missions before, and you've not done too bad, I hoped you would want in"
"No thanks Logan, ive got better…" Alec continued as Logan began to speak over him
"And bad guys usually have a lot of money lying around, what happens to that is none of my concern"
"Maybe I'll hear you out" Alec Said with his trademark grin
What is Logan thinking, I spend the majority of my life trying to avoid him. Max moaned to herself
"Good to hear" Logan Continued"I Know we have lost a lot of people over the past few years, especially with the Milburn incident; they have been killed, injured or left for their own safety. However we shouldn't let that stop us, the world is still a very corrupt place, and someone needs to do something about it. I know we no longer have Herman with us, but we do have support from the S1W, it won't be easy, but Bling and I, with the help of a few friends have kept it going over the past 3 years, so we can do this. So, who wants in?" He finished
Everyone around the table raised their hand, other than Alec who reluctantly gave in saying "ahh what the hell"
"That's all I wanted to say for now, we need to sort out a few more things with Eyes only before we continue, thanks for coming" Logan concluded
Every one around the table left and moved towards the door "Take care" Logan said to Matt and Bling
"Later" Alec said arrogantly and gave max and Logan a small wave
"Ive got half an hour before I need to get back, you gonna get me a beer?" Max smiled at Logan"
"As you wish" He replied as he walked over to the bar. He returned with two bottles and placed them on the table. Max took a drink and began to speak
"So what's this all about, I had you down as a lone ranger Mr Cale"
"Before we met Eyes only was a fairly big thing, we had about 30 members. The whole thing wasn't my idea; it was my mentor, Herman who started the whole informant net. He showed me everything I know. I just came up with the eyes only broadcast. About ten years ago though, he disappeared, and ive not been able to find him since. After that though I decide to keep eyes only going. About 3 and a half years a go there was a guy call Paul Milburn. He had been kidnapping young girls and selling them into prostitution over seas. The place was a little more heavily guarded that we expected, we lost a lot of people that day. People began to drop out after that because they felt that they were in danger. And then there was the Edgar Sonrisa incident, you know what happened there. After that I didn't want to put people in danger, so I called it over, and just left it with me, Bling and matt occasionally.
"And there you were, taking all the credit" She smiled "Just one thing. Why Alec of all people"
"I just thought that he could be helpful to eyes only, you know you like him really"
"More than you Know" max muttered to herself.
"What?" Logan Asked.
"Oh, nothing" she replied.
For the next ten minutes they were engaged in meaningless conversation until max became silent. Logan noticed a single tear rolling down her face. He looked at her compassionately "Its gonna be ok Max, were going to figure this thing out someday" Logan Smiled.
"Yeah" She smiled back as she dragged herself out of her chair "I have to get back to work anyway. Catch ya later"
The rest of the afternoon was fairly eventless. She was on her last run of the day when she began to develop a fever, but she thought nothing of it. After Work she went to terminal city, just as she did every day to see how things were going, to see Joshua, and drop off a few supplies. On her way out she noticed an X5 called Paul
Damn, he's looking pretty fine max thought to herself. He bumped into her as she walked past
"Hey" he said
"Hey yourself" Max replied seductively and waved as he moved into the distance. She jumped on her ninja and went straight home after that. As she got to the door she reached into her pocket for her keys "Oh shit" she moaned as she remembered that she had left them at Jam pony. She reluctantly got back on her Ninja and went over to Jam Pony. She noticed Normal was still there. She grabbed her keys then her eyes wandered over to normal. She slowly started to move towards him
Damn Normal is looking good. Oh shit Max you're in heat walk away now do it. What am I talking about? Look at how good he looks I can't leave now without saying Hi. Max what the hell are you thinking its Normal of All people. Oh shut up. It will be fun
As max finally gave in she approached him and began to run her finger down his chest. Normal not knowing what the hell to do just backed up against the wall and froze. Max briefly brushed her lips against his. She then grabbed his wrist and led him over to a nearby table and threw him on it
"Oh sweet Jesus" Normal said out loud as Max inched closer……………………..
Seattle space needle: some time later that night
What have I done? It was Normal, Why did it have to be normal, probably the most grotesque human on earth. I feel so sick. I need to take a cold shower. Oh god what happens when everyone finds out! It's not like Normal will want to keep it a secret. What will O.C say? What will Alec say? What will Logan say?
"Why me?" She screamed out loud. A sound from behind startled her. She turned round to see the figure of an all too familiar man approach her.
TBC-Thanks for reading
Thanks to MischievousAngel, djonie and purplebunnywabbit for the reviews