(Wow, thanks for all the reviews guys I really appreciate it and I'm glad you're enjoying this story! )
Max felt her eyes opening and she struggled to see through the dark. It felt like she had been hit by a transport truck...twice. Her entire body ached with the fire of the drugs that burned through her veins. She tried to move but she didn't have the strength. Looking up she saw Ben standing over her and she panicked—she killed him a long time ago.
"Ben, am I dead?" she heard herself say, the room was spinning and she felt heart flutter. She felt the warmth of his hand on hers and she settled slightly. "Did you meet the blue lady?"
Alec put his hand on her shoulder as if to make her calm down, he could sense her fear. "It's okay Max. You're safe. You're alive and with me, Alec." he took his hand away and sat on the bed next to her watching her every move.
Max sighed in relief. The world felt strange to her but it was good to know she was alive and out of that hell hole. Alec's presence comforted her. She smiled and gently squeezed his hand in appreciation of his presence and closed her eyes again.
It hadn't been much of a conversation but Alec was relieved that Max was improving—there was still a lot of questions he had but for now he was focused on her recovery. He knew he should leave and get some things done but he couldn't tear himself from her side. She was alone and vulnerable she needed him. It was a sort of an unspoken camaraderie the two had; they understood one another more than they could comprehend and hated each other for it.
If there had been one good thing that he learned at Manticore it was never to leave a soldier when their in trouble and Alec knew that there was still a long road ahead on their path to redemption. He eased himself down into the chair beside her and turned out the lights, settling in for the night.
**
Ames White studied the picture in his hands quietly. The quality was poor but he could make out that face anywhere, "Yep that's our girl. She's with 494 so we'll bag both of them when we go in. Any other sightings?"
The men shook their heads and handed him another piece of paper. It was a confidential letter written by Dr. Inglewood to the government in a plea to retrieve the girl. White couldn't help but smile, "Get a digit on this guy and let me speak to him. I have a feeling he might want to make a deal."
Moments later a disgruntled middle aged man answered his phone, "Hello Doctor, I hope this is not too late for you. I am former detective Ames White and I specialized in the special operations unit.. I have a feeling you may be in need of my services to locate a terrestrial?" Ames' eyes glowed with anticipation.
"Ah yes. I am assuming that the Mayor has advised you of my little problem?" the man asked in a thick English accent, "Her human name is Max Guvera coded by Manticore as X5452. I am in the middle of gathering genetic data from her and would her returned immediately."
"Precisely what I would like to do for you. I can find her and bring her to you on one condition: I want forty thousand dollars and I want to be a part of your experiment team. No questions asked, I assure you I am very qualified in the area. Do we have a deal?"
"Assuming she has the capacity to survive the last series of tests I think we have a deal Mr. White. The faster you bring her to me, the more money I will offer you on top. I'll be sending you a few of our men and equipment to aid you and when you find her, you know who to call."
Ames hung up the phone and smiled in victory. It might take a bit of work but 452 would be his, and 494 would be the consolation prize. The sooner he would be deciphering those codes on her skin, the sooner he could end her pathetic transgenic life.
**
Logan Cale sat alone in his room. The movement in the other room had stopped and he figured Alec had gone to sleep. It was ridiculous this predicament he was in! As happy as he was that Max was back with them Logan knew something else would be coming. It always did and he hated that things always came between him and Max.
He loved her. She was everything a man could dream of and more: beautiful, intelligent, outspoken..she was a hero. It was a shame that they had tip toed around each other for so long before they had confronted their feelings and they paid for it with the daily challenge of the virus. Now they lived on false hope and dreams of a cure, which Logan figured was never going to happen since he's had his own people working on it since day one. It wasn't fair that he was keeping her, holding her back from the kind of love she deserved..he had nothing to offer her.
But he wasn't ready to let her go..
The second glass of pre-pulse wine tasted even better than the first and it lingered with his thoughts of Max. It wouldn't be quiet much longer before White and the others were back on her tail and he knew that since the deal was broken the heat would be back on Terminal City.
**