.CHAPTER 7

Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel or any of it's characters.

Her head was killing her and for some reason her stomach did also. She opened her eyes slowly and as she did the blinding light hit them hard. What happened? After a moment or so they cleared and she realized that she was on a train. She didn't understand what was happening or what was going on, as a steward passed she touched his arm,

"Um, excuse me." she said touching her head lightly to keep the headache at bay, "Can you tell me where we're going?"

"Of course," he said cheerfully, "There was a young man with you, said you were his sister and that you weren't feeling well," he placed a couple aspirin on a napkin along with a small glass of water. "so he told me to keep an eye on you. He got off at the last stop a few hours ago, our next and final stop is Newark, NJ. There your ticket is transfered to a connecting train to the Hudson County region of the state. You can go into NY city which is right across the water, or PA which is a couple of hours away. Enjoy."

He walked off leaving her numb. NJ? NY? They sent me clear across the country? Who was with me? Alec? No, I didn't even see him and Jondy before they shot me with that... dart, she thought. She grabbed a black bag that sat next to her, the cash wasn't hardly enough to get back home.

"Damn it!" She cried frustrated.

She stopped the tears threatening to fall, and instead searched through the bag and found a cell phone, in which she figured they would contact her with, some clothes and an address on a folded sheet of paper. She guessed there would be someone there to tell her what would happen or at least she hoped there was.


"What?" Logan asked getting up.

"She's gone now." Alec said. "She tried, she tried real hard to make them change their mind but nothing worked. Lydecker's back, he said her safety and well being was more important than anything else. You know, because of the whole humanity thing, she wanted to come here in hopes that you'll save her, but Joshua called me just a little while ago and said they took her, unconscious. He said they shot her with a dart," he chuckled, "I knew she wouldn't go willingly."

Logan's face was pained, and he sat placing his head in his hands taking deeps breaths.

Jondy went and sat down beside him placing a consoling hand on his back, "I'm really sorry, Logan."

He looked up at her, eyes almost as blue as his, hair a much fairer blond than his own, almost golden her smile radiant. Her face was almost just as beautiful as Max's, and her body? Of course genetically perfect, and her attitude matched Max's almost also, although he sensed she had more discipline and followed orders rather than rebuke against them better than Max did.

"So..." he began sitting back looking at her. "Which one are you?"

"Jondy." She smiled.

"Jondy..." he thought, "You and her were built together almost. To be alike I mean, the doctor that designed you, and the one that engineered Max wanted you two to be close, similar. We sort of met him... I'm rambling." He cleared his throat. "What I mean is, I've heard of you. You and her are supposed to be real close. Do you think you can help?"

Her eyes widened in excitement, and she nodded her head feverishly. "I'll do anything to help you guys out. Max talked all about you when we had a chance to sit down and catch up, I'm so happy for her. It's the least I can do... since you know..."

"Since what?" He asked.

"The escape. Max never did like the idea of us separating..." she chuckled. "Zack was so angry when she refused to leave him behind. I was better at following orders, I'm still a little like that I guess. I had to grab her hand and drag her away from him. We were racing through the snow... it was so cold, lucky for us Manticore thought kindly to give us a sort of furnace to keep us a bit warmer- keeps away the frost bite. I was always a bit faster than Max, I was smaller in frame back then and light, but she could always blur a lot quicker than me, I've gotten better with that now. I went first, across the ice, training taught us to always go one by one when crossing a questionable danger area, that way you may only lose one instead of many. It felt fine... sturdy. But Max crossed right after me and fell through instantly, I don't know if I cracked it or the weight we had crossing it did it, but what ever happened it happened quick. I ran back, called out to her but she didn't come out. I saw the TAC soldiers coming if I stayed there they would have caught me and her, that and I wanted to lead them away from the hole in the ice. I regretted not jumping in there with her ever since, I thought she died until Zack told me what happened one day when she refused to follow him to Canada, good for her."

"Yeah, Max does what she wants" he chuckled.

"Except this." Alec said finally wanting it to go on to how to save Max, "She tried to get out of the decision but Lydecker just doesn't seem to be the guy that cares about things like feelings."

"Believe me," Jondy said, "He doesn't."

"So what are we going to do?" Logan asked sitting up a little.

Alec shrugged he sat on the arm of the couch. "Well, we would need to know where they sent her which I assume only Lydecker and another- maybe Seth, would know. Coran too but I think they would say the less who know the better. I think maybe you should let us do the snooping."

"I agree with Alec." Jondy said almost cheerfully.

Alec smiled at that.

"Ok," Logan said, "I'm going to start a little research on this, make sure you keep me constantly updated."

"Gotcha." Alec said leaving the place with Jondy trailing him.

"So, Lydecker's first?" Jondy asked almost eagerly.

"Well, I was going to go with Seth, but do you think Lydecker's the better choice?"

She looked away, "No, but I just been waiting for a long time to exact revenge for Eva and Jack I guess I could wait."

"It's going to have to for now, we need to get Max back, I know she's counting on us. Come on, let's see what Seth can tell us."

The apartment wasn't that great and the landlord said she couldn't stay long, the rent was only paid for a couple of months. She didn't care, she was going to find a way for sure to get home back to Logan, and her long lost sister, Jondy with whom she refused to let slip away again. She laid on the dirty sheets and uncomfortable cot. She didn't know what to do, did she have to wait until someone contacted her or was she supposed to wing it? She sat up and decided to get out and look around the place for a while maybe there was something there she could do while she made up a plan of escape.

The place wasn't much different than Seattle, there were still bums in the street and trash on the ground. There were limited stores so that must meant limited jobs. She walked around the block and found a market full of built stores from scratch, it was just a little bigger than South Market Street where she used to get her pills from, and some of the black market goods. She looked around at some of it, and surprisingly there was orange juice, and fruit and some other prepulse stuff around. She thought maybe she would hang around there just long enough to taste some fresh apple juice for a change, then bounce. The people there were a bit warmly dressed, and were just a bit more rude than what she was used to, and she noticed as she made her way through the city, the more deeper she went the more crooked and dangerous it was. Gangs stood openly out on the streets dealing their goods on the corners and in stores, cops could be seen at some points getting in on the action, and she'd already been stopped more than once by then by someone all doped up, asking for a nickel for a bag. Prostituting was almost a profession now as well, women stood along the side walks stopping cars here and there, passing cash along to some pimp and climbing in along side the driver. The longer she walked around the more she saw why she was sent there- she was anonymous. No one in this city would even remember her name, so many people and no way to keep track of all of them, she was just another face. Good, she would go back to that new garbage dump of an apartment and think about how she was going to get herself out of this mess, maybe get some food too while she was at it.


"I can't tell you where she is," Seth said angrily.

"Yes you can," Jondy said evening her tone with his. "How could you do this to her? She's our sister."

"I know and that's why I have to do this. I can't have any more of our lives lost anymore. This White guy wants her dead because of some crazy cult thing and I can't have that happen to her. I love her too you know, I love all of you, your all the family I have and that's why I can't let that happen. Jondy I know you two are close, but this is what's best for her. I can't stay here long, I have to go."

"Seth" Jondy grabbed his arm, "Please, I can't lose her again, you don't understand."

He touched her cheek, "You know how much I love you Jondy, you two mean so much to me. But when I look into your eyes I see Brin, and Tinga. I look over at Alec and all I see is Ben, even a little of Zack is in there, and I know for sure that I have to go with my instinct and say no, I have to do what's best for her and the rest of you. Now, believe me, I don't know about all this talk about saving the world with her blood, but Lydecker took a bag of it and said it would be taken care of. I have to go now, Jondy. Krit, Syl, Zane, Vic and all the rest of us are going back to ground, you do the same. Let Alec do this alone, he'll soon realize that his efforts are in vain, she won't be at her residence for long, and her cash isn't hardly enough to get home. She is just going to have to stick it out, she'll be fine. Once we've killed these Familiars you'll be contacted soon for instructions on that, she can come home, but until then stay away." He kissed her cheek and looked at Alec who stood across the room listening the whole time, then walked out the door.

"Are all your brothers so..." Alec looked at her trying to find the right word.

"Concerned? He just worries about us, we're the only family we have." She shrugged.

"I was going to go with affectionate," Alec shrugged.

"He doesn't want me to help you, I should listen to him... but I won't." She smiled, "I want my sister back. What now?"

"Well," he said slowly thinking and accessing the information, "It took us a week to find him, and it might take longer to find Lydecker if we're lucky he didn't skip town again. But if we're going to try and find him we better do it now. I'm calling Logan. Go around and see what you can find out about Lydecker. Hurry."

Jondy did what she had to to get information on him. Going around Terminal City, she asked anyone from the X series to the anomalies. Mole was, as always, no help with information, he said simply that he wasn't sure where that "SOB" went but he would be more than happy to help find Max. Dix and Luke, and some vampire looking girl named Dame said they knew nothing. Joshua however, which she soon took a liking to with his sensitive, boyish attitude, and optimistic nature, said he did some asking also and found a few things out from some very frightened punks down Chinatown.

"Don't tell Max, Joshua not supposed to go out, she get very mad. But Joshua must find Max, I miss her. Who you?" He asked sniffing at her a little.

"J- Jondy." She said, she was taken aback by his size and height and his teeth although very cool, could be quite painful when sunken into skin. "I'm her sister."

He smiled brightly and almost laughed, "Sister?" He hugged her tightly and let her astonished body go. "Sorry, I'm so happy for Max. Are you two close?"

"Yeah, we are." She smiled. "I miss her already. I need your help with something, Lydecker-"

Joshua let out a displeasing growl.

"I know," she smiled, "me too. Anyway, Lydecker might know where she is, can you help me find him?"

"Well, Joshua might know where he was he not sure though if he is still there though."

"Ok," she said a too anxiously, "Where?"

"Talk to Ace and Sid, they would know." Joshua smiled.

"What? Ace and Sid, the X5s? They're here? How do you know they'll know?"

Joshua's smiled widened and his eyes glinted like he was about to tell her a very exciting secret,

"Ace is automotive expert. He can drive and fix cars and everything else that has an engine and can move. Plus Lydecker can't come in without an X5 with him, no one trusts him and he maybe get killed before he get in. Who do you think was chosen to go see and get him?"

Jondy didn't realize how big and wide her smile had gotten, she could feel the excitement course through her body, "Oh thank you, Joshua!" She couldn't resist hugging him and pecking him on the cheek. "Max is going to know how you helped me get her home and don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

She left Joshua there with a blush in his cheeks and a smile on his lips. She traveled through the sections of anomalies and soon cut across where the X5 series' were staying. She got looks from all around some smiles, some glares, and even a few backs were turned to her. Man, she thought I figured they'd get over it by now. She walked up to a girl, teenager probably, and asked,

"Hi, my name's Jondy-"

"I know who you are, X5 210, one of the twelve that escaped that night in '09. What do you want?"

Damn, she thought is everyone at Manticore so damn loyal? "I'm looking for Ace and maybe Sid- X5s-"

"I know their class," she said almost snottily, "Why you want to find them for?"

"Look I don't care what you think of me or the others, but they might help me find Max and that's the only thing I'm worried about right now. Can you tell me where to find them or not?"

She rolled her eyes, "Yeah, the officers stay together in case any of us need them. They're over on the other side of the building."

"Thanks." she mumbled.

Before she left the girl grabbed her arm, "Wait. I have to ask you something."

Jondy lifted an eyebrow and the girl let go getting the hint, "Shoot"

"You and the other twelve... why'd you go? Why did you abandon your mission and post? Were you spies or just to coward to finish training?"

Jondy smiled- almost laughed, "Has anyone from your unit been killed? Have you watched your brothers and sisters be murdered for flaws in their DNA, cause they can't swim as good, or they can't hold their breath as long as you can. Or how about out on training missions? Did any of you kids shoot off the rifle by mistake and kill one of your own? Have you ever watched Lydecker put a round right through the chest of your sister and see her fall to the ground lifeless?" The tears stung her eyes but she didn't even try to hold them back, "You know what is was like back there... you know how the beatings feel. Max, she might not mean much to any of you, but back then when we were at Manticore, she watched them cut open Jack like he was some science experiment, or lab dummy. They killed him because of the seizures, and that day when he fell to the ground seizing, we all knew she was next. Our CO Zack was not about to let that happen, so the ones who wanted to run- ran. The others were left behind to deal with the consequences, their choice. But Max went back and saved all of you, even the nomalies to give you the eye opener out here that we had. Manticore was a prison... a hell and horrible place. Now go ahead and be angry, but by us escaping that led to your freedom today."

"Freedom?" the girl scoffed, "What freedom? Look around you, Manticore's hell? No this place is hell, not enough food or water, the people that we were trained to protect want us dead, what did she send us out here to? We were better off back there to begin with."

Jondy didn't let the anger control her, she let out the held breath she didn't realize was there and sighed, "Then, soldier, what's keeping you here? Get out."

She turned on her heel and left in search of Ace and Sid, she didn't have time to listen to the bratty little X6 rant about her horrible life. Jondy remembered what it was like for her when she got out that night, she was scared and cold, and the first MAC truck she saw she hopped until it stopped somewhere in Cali, she never felt more relaxed than that moment. She quickly shoplifted a few items from a thrift store and made her way around stealing food when she can and sneaking into into motel rooms for a good night's sleep when she needed it. It stayed like that for almost a month after the escape until she got caught stealing in a fast food restaurant. Her name was Pauline de Flor and she was there with her family, two boys and her husband.

"What's your name?" She asked.

Jondy's eyes were wide, and she knew she couldn't find any excuses in her mind why she packed her jacket with frozen burgers and fries. She didn't say a thing.

"Are you hungry?"

Jondy started looking around at the people, nobody seemed to notice. As long as you fit in with sociaty you were fine and unobserved but this lady spotted her right away sneaking out of the employees' door with a jacket full of their frozen food. I knew I should have eaten it in the freezer, she thought. Training taught her that when exposed you do any means necessary to complete the mission and kill anyone that discovered your identity, but she just couldn't do that now... right?

"Ok, I know you don't know me but I can see that you need some help so come on let's go to the bathroom for a moment." She stuck out her hand smiling genuinely.

Jondy was surprised by this woman's kindness, but she was even more surprised when she reached up and grabbed it.

As they passed the trash she reached inside her pocket and threw away the frozen food Jondy was expecting to consume later. In the bathroom she ran warm water and began wiping her face as she talked,

"Look I know you don't know me but I really just want to help, you look like you need help." She took off Jondy's jacket and began looking at her arms. "I have to sons... I don't know what I'd do if they were so hungry they started stealing food- frozen food at that- from some fast food place. Can you speak English?"

Jondy nodded.

"You can talk too right?"

She nodded again.

"Are you here all alone?"

Again she nodded and looked at the door as too women walked in with their kids.

One looked at her then at her mother, "Why is their a boy in here?"

"Shut up, Kara, now go pee-pee." the other woman said. "Sorry, she only five." she said looking at the woman who now stood up and grabbed her hand.

"That's ok, come on sweety."

Sweety? What was that? Outside the door now she looked at her as she stopped and knelt eye level with her,

"Ok, I know you can talk so will you at least tell me your name? Please? Your secret's safe with me."

Secret? She knows! Jondy's heart raced and she must haved showed the shock on her face cause the look on the woman's face was now panicked,

"No, no listen to me, it's all right. It's not your fault, it's your parents' fault for not providing for you like they should have."

Parents? What was that? She didn't know after all, and since she wasn't in the wind Jondy wasn't looking to tell her who she was or where she came from.

"Just your name, sweetheart."

Sweetheart? It sounded like a nice name to be called. She looked into the woman's eyes and said very low, "Jondy."

"J... Jondy? You said your name is Jondy?" She smiled.

She nodded.

"That's a beautiful name, Jondy. Now I know your hungry, so just tell me what you want and I'll get it for you."

"Pauline!" the woman turned around to some man standing there.

"Hey, honey, are you going to come and sit we're waiting for you." He looked down at her and questionably looked at her.

"She's just a kid and she's hungry David, she's going to sit with us."

"That's ok, I'll let the boys know."

After a moment or so they headed back to the table to Pauline's family, and Jondy suddenly wished she used the back door. They looked at her oddly and she knew it was the clothes and her hair, she'd been out in the world now long enough to see that normal little girls didn't dress like that and had longer hair than what she did.

"Everybody, this is Jondy, Jondy this is my husband David and my two boys Thomas and Simon."

They all smiled and David her husband, whispered feverishly- what are you doing in her ear. Of course Jondy heard but she was already eating and didn't care, in another two minutes she would be gone.

"Why is your hair so short? Are you a boy or a girl?"

"Simon!" Pauline said angrily, "She's a girl, and stop being rude."

"What? Sorry, I just wanted to know..." he looked down.

"Where are your parents?" Thomas asked.

She looked at him, what were parents? She looked at Pauline.

"Thomas, you too stop with the questions."

"What..." she cleared her throat, it had been a while since she actually spoke, Max was probably the last name out of her mouth since the escape. "What are parents?"

Simon started laughing, as Thomas said, what?

"Boys, stop it." Pauline was angry at them now, but then again it must have been an odd question.

"Where I'm from we never learned that word." Jondy shrugged.

"Where are you from, Mars?" Simon mocked.

"No," she said these words very calm, and factually without any contempt in her voice.

"Boys, I swear-"

"It's ok," she kept her eyes low and her voice as well, "I understand. Thank you for the food, I have to go."

Before she could get up however Pauline grabbed her, "Wait, where do you live? Maybe I can drive you there."

Jondy looked at her quickly, "No," her voice held a slight shake in it, "I'm not going back there, I'd rather die." She stood and the woman grabbed her arm softly, "Don't." She said dangerously.

"Look, I won't take you back if you don't want to go back. I want to help you." She looked sincere.

Jondy's eyes surveyed the table- seemed like she was the only one, everyone else looked a bit scared. "How? You can't help me."

"Come with me to my house and we'll talk- just talk promise." Her eyes pleaded almost to hers.

Jondy looked down, "O... okay."

That was almost eleven years ago, Jondy thought. She shook the memory away as she made her way over to the X5 set up, her unit and others not recognizable to her stared at her almost with a questionable look about them.

"210..." one of them said- Ian was his name, or X5741.

She continued pass him.

"Traitor." another whispered, Tika or X5105.

She tried to ignore some of the insults being thrown at her, and if it wasn't for Sid standing and beckoning her over, she probably would've snapped right there.

"Jondy! Over here! What are you doing here? Seth said to go to ground."

"Forget about Seth, I need to know where's Lydecker. Now. I know Ace brought him in here, now tell me."

"Jondy, what happened to you? You used to take orders so well."

"Oh yeah? Since when?" a dark skinned guy next to her scoffed. Taj was his name, X5392

"How's it going Taj?" She said in a low voice.

He turned his back towards her and started a conversation with one of the other X5s next to him.

"Sid, Max is out there and she was forced to be because of Lydecker. I'm on her side, not his, now where's Ace?" She demanded.

"Look Jondy, I want what's best for Max too and I know this is what is. I know this is hard, but it's what's best. Now I have to go and see what's going on out here with our supplies we still have protesters and rallys outside this gate, and I know what your biggest problem here is getting Max home against Seth's and the Col's will, but mine is the safty and well being of these soldiers in here. Now, if you will excuse me." Sid passed her in a huff.

She looked around some more but Ace was no where no where to be found. She wasn't giving up, not just yet, but she sat in a corner alone and thought some more about how the hell she was going to get her sister back once again.


No call... there was no call that came for her and for a while she considered listening to Seth and waiting. But no, not anymore she would call Logan, or Alec or Original Cindy, someone- anyone- that could help her.

"Logan? Logan?" His phone picked up but no one said anything on the other end.

"Hello?" That was definitely not Logan.

"Who is this? Where's Logan?" She spat.

"Max, why are you calling? You should be in hiding."

"Coran? What are you doing at Logan's?" She started to get panicked now thinking that something might be wrong.

"Max, this is the last time you use this number. I'm disconnecting it. He's out with Alec and Jondy trying to figure out if we moved you out of the country or not. You have to understand we're doing this for your safety and everyone else's. Please don't make this anymore difficult."

"Coran I want to come back. I need to be there, I'm not staying here, I'll do what ever it takes!" Her heart felt broken.

"Your contract will be up there soon, I suggest you move, besides, White got wind that your gone, and with the Coming near and all... Let's just say we haven't seen him in weeks now. Go somewhere else and don't let anyone know. Understand?"

"No! No I don't! I'll call Alec... or someone from JamPony. I'll find someone to help me Coran, I will."

"I wish you could understand, Max. I don't want to lose you like we lost the others, it's a shame you can't see that baby sister. Goodbye Max."

The phone clicked.

"Damnit!" She cried frustrated and slamming the already battered phone. She punched the wall leaving a mark and a little blood but she didn't care. She wanted to go home, she needed to go home, and she needed to now.

She walked slowly back to her unwelcoming apartment, and flopped on the bed not knowing what to do. She remembered back at Manticore learning how to change people's numbers and sending out the new number to those who you wanted to give it to. That's how Coran could it, and he probably lifted Alec's phone and changed the one at Jampony, and her old crib, anything to keep her from harm's way, to save the world. Why...? She thought sadly as a few tears slipped out, why does happiness have to be so hard? Why don't I know how to get it... or keep it for that matter? She sat up as the door opened and smelled the landlord from her room.

"Can't you knock, Alan?"

"I'm sorry but you must leave this week. I have new people to live here on Saturday and they give more than you."

"What?" she said unbelievably.

"Sorry, Friday you must be gone. Bye bye."

He left closing the door. Oh yeah, she thought, they definitely are forcing me to stay out here. What next?

It was bullshit, she knew, she was there for only a few weeks and now she had to go? The apartment was paid for two months. She knew she wasn't getting that money back. Shame. She could be out by today if wanted to be but she had no where to go. Forget it, she thought, she had given them enough time to fight the Familiars and have her come back. She decided that instead of following orders- which she never did much by choice anyway, she would find a way by herself. Besides, White was somewhere out there anyway looking for her, so as long as that was happening she wasn't safe reguardless.

Making up her mind, she packed her bags and headed towards the buses that boarded for New York City, and once there she was sure she would find a way to back to Washington. Her hopes were high and she would try and keep them that way until she arrived home.

Author's Note: Hey all! I know I know I must be crazy not to have posted for this long. Don't worry this story will have an ending. Promise. Ok, well let me know how it was it had been a while so I hope I kept with the rhythm of the story. I know the part with Jondy looked like it didn't fit but I had to add it to give a little insight on her life. More memories from her past will be in the next chapter. Leave any reviews if there's somethings that need to be said!