Chain Reaction

Chapter 26 – day 5, part two

What if, in the escape of '09, Max hadn't escaped with the others? What if Jondy tried to save her when she fell in the ice, but in the end, they both got caught?

…

'13

Idaho

Star had been on the road only half an hour, when she felt a sudden urge to turn around and return to Boise. Pulling off the road, she let her bike idle while she tried to prod the feeling into giving off more information. Sometimes it worked, but most of the time it didn't. This time, it didn't. It was just a feeling, that she had to go back to town for something. She knew there was no one living in or near Boise. Now that Brin had been moved out of Salt Lake City, the closest person was Tinga, in Portland. Which meant that someone was in trouble, and had left a message on her voice mail system needing her help.

If she turned around now, she'd have to pass through the town border again. But since Star had no idea how long it would take her to reach the next town, she knew she'd have to risk it. Especially since the two people most likely to be in trouble were Brin and Micah. She didn't stop to think about which one it would be, but pulled straight back onto the road, and headed back toward Boise.

…

Portland

Tinga almost fell off her stool with shock. Micah grabbed her by the shoulder, and helped her steady herself.

"Maxie's here? As in, really here? You didn't mistake someone else for her? She's in the city? Now?"

"Tinga…"

"What, Micah? What could be better than Maxie getting out? And coming here? We have to go find her. We can help her. Give her... Micah? What is it?"

Micah sighed, and tried to remember how he'd meant for this conversation to go.

"She... she didn't get out, did she, Micah? She's not free?"

"No. She's not. She's still with Manticore."

"So, she's what? On a mission? But she's only 13. She can't be on a mission. She's too young. They can't have trained them up completely in just four years. Surely not?"

"She must be. There'd be no other reason for her to be out here otherwise." Micah paused. Tinga wasn't going to like what he had to say now. "Tinga, we have to leave."

"What? No. I won't."

"We can't stay here. What if more of them come here? What if Lydecker is here as well? We can't risk it. And besides, I already called Star."

"Oh, Micah. I don't want to leave here. It's a nice place. I like it here."

"It doesn't matter whether you like it. Even if Star loved this place, she wouldn't let you stay here. Not now. And she probably won't let anyone live anywhere near here for a couple of years. Just in case."

"Still… I thought I could make a home here. I thought it would work out."

"I know. Maybe you'll find another place, better than this. You never know. We'll help you find something, you know. We won't just leave you alone."

Tinga nodded. She didn't like it, but she knew Micah was right. And arguing with Star was plain crazy, without any hope of winning. But maybe she'd come back here, someday.

…

Max curled up on her bed, and turned on the cheap television set. The thing had only a couple of channels, with bad reception at that. Still, she was intrigued by all the programs that ran, programs that she was sure the Colonel wouldn't have approved of. One in particular, she'd watched for three nights now. It involved a doctor who never seemed to diagnose his patients properly. While she didn't know much about medicine, at least she knew that randomly testing and treating people probably wouldn't work too well in the real world. Not to mention the system was completely inefficient. Still, it made for interesting watching, and was better than doing nothing.

While Max watched the television, Alec flicked through one of the old magazines he'd taken from the entrance hall downstairs. All it seemed to be concerned about was how to give the perfect kiss, and how to tell if your boyfriend was cheating on you. As a result, Alec spent more time watching Max watch her television show than reading the magazine.

When the show finally finished, Max turned the television set off, and looked over at Alec. He was looking at some old magazine, but he didn't seem to reading it. Max threw one of her pillows at him, and was rewarded when it hit him squarely in the head. He picked it up, and threw it back at her, but she dodged it, and it landed on the other side of the room.

"What were you staring off into space for? The magazine really that boring?"

"It's a girl's magazine, Max. Not something I find very interesting."

"So you were doing what? Meditating? Contemplating? Planning a brilliant escape?"

"No. I was just thinking. I think I'll go to sleep now, Max. You tired tonight?"

"Nah. I've already slept this week, remember?" Max replied with a grin. "I think I'll do some reading, or something, later. In the bathroom, so I don't disturb you. For now, I'm going to plan what we should do tomorrow."

"Okay."

Max lay on her side, watching Alec as he went to sleep. Sometimes, she wished she needed more sleep. It would be nice, maybe, to be able to close your eyes each night and shut the world away.

…

Star pulled up outside the apartment block Tinga had taken up residence in. She'd made it back into Boise without trouble, and found a working payphone. The message Micah had left troubled her, and she'd set off again as quickly as possible. She'd made record time, getting to Portland just as the sun was beginning to set.

She left her bike behind a thick set of bushes, not surprised to find Micah's there as well, and made her way up to Tinga's rooms. She knocked softly on the door three times, before rapping it with her knuckles twice. After a moment, Micah opened the door. He gave her a grin, before stepping aside and letting her in. Given the bags stacked up near the door, Micah and Tinga had been expecting her.

"You're back, Star." Tinga walked into the room, and greeted her with a brief hug. "Brin moved okay?"

"No problems. Am I going to have any problems moving you out of here?"

Tinga shook her head. "I'll play the good soldier, for now. I know you do this to look after us, even if it does get annoying, moving all the time. I really liked it here."

"It's not a bad place. But it could also be a very dangerous place. Are you ready to move out right now?"

Tinga nodded, and pointed at the three bags already packed. "I figured, since we're not actually running from anyone yet, I could take some of my stuff with me. It's not much. I can carry two, riding with Micah. If you'd take the other?"

"I'll take two of them. You'll balance better, with only one. And I've plenty of room on my bike."

Star picked up two of the bags, and started to head out the door. Micah followed her, while Tinga grabbed the third bag. She gave a last look back at the place that had been her home for almost a year, before heading out the door to join the others.

…

Manticore

Jondy led the way to the infirmary wing of the barracks. There were few guards out, and most of them were still lagging from the previous night's X-6 drill. The six X-5s didn't have any trouble getting around them.

When they reached Dr Schinkoff's office, the door was closed. After a quick conversation in hand signals, Jondy placed an ear against the door. The only sounds she could hear were the hum of the computer, and someone typing. Pulling back, she took two deep breaths, and knocked quietly on the door.

When it opened, Jondy almost cried out. The person tapping at the computer wasn't Dr Schinkoff. It was Lydecker. Beside the door stood 598, a triumphant gleam in his eyes.

…

Portland

Max had given up on the magazines after only an hour or two. They contained very little interesting information, and couldn't hold her attention for more than a couple of minutes at a time. She went back into the main room, and lay back down on her bed. Alec was still sound asleep in his bed, with his back to her. Closing her eyes, Max allowed herself to simply think about nothing in particular.

She was startled out of the calm state sometime later, by a sharp rapping on the door. Getting up slowly, Max walked over to it. It was barely one in the morning, and most other people would be asleep at this time. She took a look through the spy hole, and gulped. Cautiously, she opened the door.

…