Just Another 48 Hours -- Chapter 6

[parallax23]

Chapter 6: The Man with a Plan

May 5, 2021 

After Logan’s flag idea, he had been let back into Max’s counsel.  He enjoyed feeling useful to her again, though how useful he actually was could be debated.  Being put in charge of the flag raising committee was hardly anything to brag about.  Still, he could be close to Max again and that felt like enough as he stood in her office going over the final arrangements. 

“Seriously, where’d Manticore store all these guys?” Alec said in a tired voice when he walked into Max’s office late in the afternoon. 

He dropped himself onto an old couch that had come with the room.  Dalton, who was his equally exhausted shadow, followed Alec’s lead by plopping himself down beside the older transgenic.  A smile pulled at the corners of Max’s lips when she saw the annoyed glance Alec gave the boy.  It was funny watching the X6 copy everything he did, which was starting to get on Alec’s nerves.  If Alec hadn’t found the kid useful for something other than bolstering his ego, he would’ve ditched him a long time ago.  Suddenly he wondered if that was how Max first felt when he started following her.  No, he was much more street smart and could hold his own. 

Max took the papers from Alec and was looking them over intently, as if trying to figure something out.   

Logan found the situation amusing too, but turned away from them to occupy himself with some papers on the desk so they wouldn’t know it.  Dalton mistook this as Logan still giving Alec a hard time, and hand-signaled to Alec that he could mess with Logan when Max wasn’t looking.  Alec’s response was a swift hand smacking him across the back of the head, which was the signal to mind his own business.   

Dalton flinched and tried to hide his pain when Max turned back to them. 

“Haven’t you found your own place yet?” Max asked when she was done going over the housing assignments. 

Alec shook his head.  He didn’t mind staying with Joshua, but their previous attempt at living together had proved it was best if they didn’t live together.  “It’s too crowded for me to get my own place just yet.  Got plenty of offers to share though.  But no one I couldn’t stand not to kill in their sleep or trust not to kill me in my sleep.  Then there were the ones who wanted me for anything but sleep.” 

The last part caused Max to roll her eyes. 

“What about you, Max?” asked Dalton, trying to keep his voice casual.  “Where are you going to stay?” 

“Max only needs two hours of sleep,” Alec informed him.  “I’ve been petitioning for more though.” 

“Well, why don’t you guys stay with me, Gem, and the baby?  We just got assigned to big place with more than enough room,” Dalton suggested.  He didn’t want to seem too enthusiastic at the prospect of living with Max.  And maybe Alec. 

It took every fiber of Alec’s being not to laugh and pat the kid on the back.  The kid had guts.  And he went after what he wanted.  Alec could appreciate that.  Even though Dalton still had a lot to learn about playing it off well, that made it all the more interesting to watch.  Max always did have that effect on young teenage boys and geeks in general like Brain and Logan, much to her chagrin and Alec’s amusement. 

Max looked at Dalton incredulously.  At least the kid wasn’t using any of Alec’s lines yet.  “I’ll think about it.” 

Logan wanted to tell her to take Dalton up on his offer.  Gem was a nice person and would be great company for Max while they were inside.  She couldn’t keep leaving her stuff at Joshua’s place and live at Headquarters.  She needed a home.  The one part of the equation he didn’t like was the idea of her living with Alec, but as long as they weren’t living together alone, he could deal with that. 

“Well, Cindy’s staying with us,” Dalton offered.  Did she have to be difficult?  And Alec hadn’t answered yet. 

Oh, the kid had game.  Alec and Max would give him that.  Before either could respond, Dix came rushing in. 

“Max!” the monocle wearing transgenic called as he burst in. 

“Dix?  What is it?” Max asked, her voice full of concern in response to his urgency. 

“Phone call,” Dix told her breathlessly. 

She didn’t even bother to listen to who it could be.  She just ran off to pick up the safe line that they had established after Biggs’ death.  It had been their emergency contact number for those still on the outside, and Max had been hoping that they didn’t have to use it after the phone check-in twenty-four hours ago. 

Alec was hot on her heels as she rushed out, the only one able to keep pace with her and the one whose ass was going to be shot at if White was involved.  Dix slowly followed behind them. 

That left Dalton and Logan alone in the office.  Their eyes met when they realized this fact. 

“So… uh, Dalton, right?  How’s life?”  Logan said, remembering all too well that he had never been good with kids. 

The boy narrowed his eyes, but didn’t break the stare.  He wasn’t going to break that easily.  “I know seven different ways to kill you without leaving this chair and I’m bored.” 

His casual tone caused Logan to swallow in fear.  He’d seen them in action when Max raided Manticore that night and didn’t want to imagine the not so friendly nature behind the innocent face. 

“Well, how about that?  I think I’ll go see what Max and Alec are up to,” Logan said and promptly exited the room. 

Dalton smiled.  Messing with Logan was even more fun than he’d imagined. 

_________________________________________________________ 

 
“Hello?” Max said into the receiver. 

She was standing in a corner by the computers in Command.  Dix and Alec stopped short a few feet away from her, trying to stay out of the way of the other bustling transgenics in the room. 

“Max?!” came a familiar female voice from the other end.  “Is it really you baby sister?” 

“Syl!” Max replied excitedly, increasing her grip on the phone.  She had thought she would never see her sister again after that night.  Even though she couldn’t see her, Max knew Syl had the same reaction.  “It’s really me!” 

“I can’t believe you threw another Manticore party and didn’t invite me,” Syl said, her tone becoming more relaxed.  “Looks like I’m just going to have to crash—Krit get away from me, I’ll give you the phone in a second.  Don’t make me sic Jondy on you.” 

Max’s heart almost stopped when she heard their names.  She had seen Krit just a year ago, but Jondy?  Jondy,  the sister she had been closest to, the one she spent so many restless nights wondering about, was now on the other end of the line with Syl and Krit.  She was almost ashamed that she had stopped looking for them in the madness after Manticore. 

“Jondy and Krit are there?” 

“Oh yeah,” Syl replied.  “Zane gathered us together when the Siege hit the news.  Seth, Liam, and Owen are with us too…  And Max?  Max, we found Zack.” 

“Zack?” 

The change in Syl’s voice hadn’t eased the blow.  Zack?  They had found Zack?   

“Max, he doesn’t really remember who we are.  We were trying to get a ride into Seattle when we heard that 452 was involved.  Then we found him.  Showing him our barcodes he remembered a little, but he’s still freaked.  What did they do to him in there?” 

Alec could hear the conversation on both ends due to his enhanced hearing, and watched the flurry of emotions dance across Max’s features.  Zack had been a painful subject for her, almost as painful as Ben.  She had told him how things had ended with Zack when it happened, trying not to let the pain slip through the cracks of her tough girl mask.  This was not what Max needed, especially when she didn’t know if he would boot up ‘Kill Logan v2.0’ when he got the rest of his memories back. 

He was tempted to put his hand on her shoulder for support, but he heard Logan’s exoskeleton moving towards them and decided it was better to leave her alone. 

Max was reeling from Syl’s news too much to notice anything that was going on around her.  She didn’t know how to answer her sister.  She couldn’t tell her what had happened after Manticore.  How she gave him up even though he’d given her everything.  Fortunately Syl saved her the trouble by continuing with her story. 

“Yeah, he was out of it when we found him.  Actually, we didn’t find him so much we were trying to steal his truck and happening to find him in the driver’s seat.  I really thought I’d lost my mind until the others said it was him.  I’ll fill you in on the rest when we get to Terminal City, because it’s a long story about how we had to kidnap him.  Then we ran into some transgenics escaped from Manticore they said, who were running out of Seattle.  They gave us this number, so I decided to try it.  What was the worst that could happen?  Get Lydecker’s direct line?” 

Max could tell Syl’s demeanor had lightened, but her own heart was still heavy with the truth.  She couldn’t let Zack get back into Seattle yet, even if she wanted to.  “Syl, where are you?” 

“Just a couple miles east of Seattle, we should be there in no time,” she said.  “Unless you’re on your way out?” 

“No, actually we’re staying right here.  We’re through running,” Max reminded her. 

“Well it’s about damn time,” Syl said.  “We’ll be there in a few hours.” 

“Syl,” she began.  She didn’t want to say it.  The words got caught in her throat.  Could she really give up what she had dreamed of for the last twelve years?  Could she keep the truth about Zack from them?  “Syl, now’s not a good time to come in.  That group you met coming in here?  Get back with them in the rendezvous point, and we’ll contact you when we can.  You know I want us all back together but…” 

“I understand.  We’re worth more out here.  Thinking tactically, Zack would be proud…  If he remembered more than our names at the moment,” Syl assured her. 

“Take good care of him.  And there’ll be a floor show at dawn tomorrow, so don’t forget to tune in.  We’ll be together soon,” Max told her, trying to sound more sure than she really was.  “It won’t be like last time…  Give everyone my love big sister.  I can’t wait to see all of you.” 

“Same here,” she replied, then gave Max a number to contact her at.  “Here’s Krit.” 

Krit’s voice cried out, “Maxie!  I can’t believe it’s really you—” 

“Max?” came another male voice she didn’t recognize.  “Max, it’s Owen!” 

“Owen, gimme that!  Hi Max!  Seth.  It’s been too long baby sister,” he said. 

A smile crossed her face as the voices all clamored to her. 

“Max, I can’t believe it’s you.”  This had to be Liam since his was the only other voice that she didn’t recognize.  “Jondy’s going to tear my arm off if I don’t give her the phone, so here she is.” 

“Jondy?” Max asked. 

“It’s just raining miracles this week, isn’t it?  First you, now Zack.  I thought you were dead all these years.  Max, if he had told me you weren’t, I would’ve come for you!  You know that right?” 

Max couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down her face.  She was so excited to hear them all, she thought her heart would burst.  “I know, Jondy.  I know.  We’re back together now.  It’s going to be okay.” 

Jondy gave a light sigh.  “I don’t know.  The world is not what it was before.  They know what we are now.  There’s no more hiding.” 

“There’s also something bigger that we’re fighting.  I’ll explain later, but we need as many transgenics alive as possible.  There are these people as fast and as strong as we are hunting us, along with our usual black ops squads, so be on your guard.  Some of the others will fill you in when you find them.  Promise me you’ll be careful?” 

“You’re the one who fell through the ice.  But we promise.” 

Max laughed. 

There was a pause before Jondy asked, “So, do you want to talk to Zack?  He doesn’t quite remember you, but maybe if he hears your voice?” 

Her voice got caught in her throat at first, but she managed to dislodge it.  “Yeah.” 

“Hi?” replied an unsure male.  Zack was always sure of himself, she remembered.   

“Zack, it’s me, Max.”  The words seemed like they didn’t come out of her mouth as she said them.  “You might not remember me, but I’ll never forget you.  You saved my life twice.  I know it all seems scary right now and it won’t get any easier.  I also know you don’t back down from a challenge.  Let the others help you, take care of you even though you’re used to taking care of everyone else.  Okay?  And we’ll see each other again.” 

“All right… Max,” Zack said, as if trying out her name for the first time.  That was how it sounded the first time he did it when they were children.  “I remember bits and pieces.  It’s slowly coming back.  Did you really burn Manticore to the ground like those kids said?” 

“Yeah, that was all me.  But I couldn’t have done it without you.” 

She could tell he was smiling on the other end of the line, the same way he had when she first told him.  “You completed the mission.  And I’m guessing the Freak Nation was a spur of the moment thing?” 

“Is it ever any other way with me?”

“Not sure, but hopefully I remember by the time I get to see you.” 

He didn’t realize how much what he said broke her heart.  How would he feel when he knew the truth?  How would they all feel?  Not just about him, but Ben as well.  She had taken the lives of two brothers.  She would have to push that aside for the moment.  Guilt trips wouldn’t help anyone right now. 

“Me too.  Bye, big brother.” 

Max hung up the phone.  A million different emotions attacked her at once, she almost felt dizzy.  She was already crying.  Joy.  Fear.  Sorrow.  Anger.  All of it spilled out of her.  Then a familiar strength surrounded her, sharing the weight of her burdens.  Stupid Alec.  She didn’t want anyone to comfort her.  She didn’t deserve it. 

Alec hated seeing people cry.  He hated seeing Max cry.  Though he’d never admit it, the sight gave him the urge to start bawling too.  Yet another reason Manticore should have had him locked up even longer in that basement.  Damn empathy.  Some days he was afraid he was too human.  That they all were. 

“You better cut it out before the other guys think I’m looking to advertise a transgenic wet T-shirt contest,” Alec whispered after they walked back into her office and shut the door. 

She nodded and pulled away from him.  Her hands wiped away the remaining tears.  “Sorry.  I didn’t mean to lose it.” 

“Don’t sweat it.  If I did what you had to do – hell, we both know that I couldn’t do what you just did.  You’re allowed to be pissed that the world can dangle everything you’ve ever wanted in your face and not let you touch it,” Alec said and offered a half-smirk.  He knew it all too well.  He didn’t need to explain it to her because she already knew.  She had been there.  “It’s moments like these that I drink myself sick, break shit, or find a new way to piss you off and get over it.” 

“I’m all right, Alec,” Max said.  “Yeah, life’s a bitch.  I learned that you have to just take the plunge, and do what you’ve gotta do.  Either torture yourself dangling there or just get it over with.” 

Alec’s expression became strained.  “Thanks, Max.  I really needed to flash back to Manticore water torture.” 

“Well, now I know what I can do to get under your skin,” Max said.  “Now back to work.” 

He rolled his eyes and mumbled, “Bip, bip, bip.” 

She took the opportunity to smack him across the head.  That felt better.  Normal. 

“You never gave me an answer about the thing last night.  Seeing as how I’ve got a growing line of applicants, I need an answer soon.  Or the offer’s off the table.” 

Alec stared at her.  Was she serious?  Picking him over Logan was one thing, but over her siblings?  Then again, this wasn’t about nepotism.  He had some very distinct advantages.  Everyone in Terminal City knew him.  He had ten more years of Manticore training than her.  He was the fair and practical choice.  Okay, when did he ever think he’d see the day that he was ‘the fair and practical choice’ on a list of options?  What was the world coming to these days?  Right, when none of the other guys could do a better job.  Oh, this situation was getting better and better, wasn’t it? 

If he did accept, it wasn’t like he couldn’t train a replacement if he wanted to leave.  Nobody said this was forever.  They could all be dead by next week, and he’d get his name in the paper for having been one of the ringleaders in this circus.   

“Sure.  Why the hell not?  I always wanted to be a CO.” 

Max glared at him.  “The position is Second in Command.  I’m the CO.” 

“Oh, I know,” he said innocently, his smirk saying the opposite. 

That earned him another smack across the head as Max walked out of the office to find Logan. 

Alec walked out after her, smug grin still plastered over his face.  Dalton was waiting at the door, ready as ever to trail after Alec once again. 

“How do you manage to piss her off like that and end up SIC?” Dalton demanded in awe. 

Alec shrugged.  “What can I say?  It’s a gift.  You have much to learn young grasshopper.” 

“And you’re going to teach it to me?” 

A light chuckle escaped from Alec’s lips when he saw the eagerness in Dalton’s eyes.  “Hell no."