Crash

The Jam Pony crew was gathered around a pool table, watching Alec pool-shark his way to another hundred bucks.  As he collected his payment, he caught sight of Original Cindy and Ginger whispering to each other and giggling, only inches apart. 

"Looks like the lovebirds made up," Sketchy said, leaning across the corner of the pool table to get close enough to Alec’s ear so he would be heard over the din of the band.  "Thought maybe after all Original Cindy’s complaining about her X5, she wouldn’t let her worm her way back into her, uh, affections," he said with suggestively raised eyebrows and a leering grin. 

"Yeah, right," Alec said.  "Love is blind, my friend."  His expression was dark as he watched them, and after a moment, he went over to them.  "Hey, you wanna come with me to get a refill?" he asked Original Cindy, his eyes telling her what he wasn’t saying with his voice.  He picked up the two empty pitchers from the table and jerked his head toward the bar. 

She looked at him funny, but didn’t argue, for once.  "Be right back, sugah," she said to Ginger, and followed Alec up the stairs. 

"We need to talk," he said grimly when they reached the bar.  He looked over her shoulder to where Ginger still sat, making sure she was out of earshot. 

"That’s what we doin’, boy," Original Cindy said.  "So spill." 

"No use beating around the bush. Ginger’s a spy," he told her.  "She’s working for Manticore...or whoever took their place in the hunt-and-kill-transgenics business." 

Confusion, then disbelief, registered on Original Cindy’s face.  "You crazier than Sketchy with his camera and tabloid newspaper.  Where’d you come up with that one?"

"Listen, I tailed her to a diner where she met with a guy and talked to him about capturing transgenics and taking them back to home-sweet-home.  There’s no mistake.  We need a plan, and we have about 48 hours to come up with one.  That’s how long we have 'til she meets with the big bad again." 

Original Cindy thought hard for a minute.  "I can’t believe my squeeze is a snitch.  There’s gotta be a reason.  Those assholes musta done to her what they did to Zack." 

"That may be, but right now we gotta figure out a way to shut her up without tipping her off that we’re on to her. Otherwise she’s liable to sic 'em on us tomorrow.  For all we know, they could show up at the laundromat. You need to tell Max, and pronto." 

Original Cindy sighed, but before she could respond, her pager beeped and she looked at it.  "Logan," she said, surprised.  "He calls me, it's usually to play spy or rescue personnel.  Better check it out," she told Alec, and he flipped her his cell phone.  

 

Harbor Lights Hospital

Assaulted by noise and smell everywhere, Aveta struggled through the city. Wearing a leather coat and gloves to protect her from unwanted touch, she hurried through the crowds. She turned a corner and saw Harbor Lights Hospital ahead. Plunging through the crowded doorway, she looked around for someone she knew.

Original Cindy saw Aveta and came hurrying across the room. "Original Cindy has never been happier to see anyone in her life," she declared.  "Come on." She turned, careful not to touch Aveta, and led the way down the crowded hall.

"What happened?" Aveta finally asked.

"I got a frantic call from Logan, telling me he was bringing Max here and to get you. You know when Mr. Cool-Under-Fire is frantic, gotta be something bad." Cindy frowned at the thought.

The hall became increasingly quiet as they walked. They reached a treatment room, and Beverly Shankar came out into the corridor. "Max is miscarrying, and she's losing a lot of blood. Aveta, she's going to need a blood transfusion."

"I'll give her as much as she needs," Aveta replied quietly.

"Original Cindy, I need you to be there for Max...and Logan. He's holding it together for Max, but I don't know for how long."

"Whatever it takes, they got it," Cindy said emphatically.

Together the women walked into the room. Max looked small and frail lying on the examination table, an IV dripping into her arm. Logan was at her side, holding her hand and talking quietly to her, oblivious to anyone else.

Original Cindy walked over to her, refusing to give in to tears. "Hey, boo. Whatcha doin' on this table? This ain't gonna get you out of cleaning the bathroom, you know."

Max looked at Cindy. "Damn, I can't ever catch a break," she said weakly, attempting to smile.  Another wave of pain engulfed her, and she shuddered.

Aveta came up to Max quietly. "Hey, Max, you ready for a transfusion?" Aveta put her hands on Max's temples and began to massage gently. Max relaxed under her touch.

Logan looked up at Aveta. "Thanks," he said simply, and returned his attention to Max.

Another woman came into the room. Beverly introduced her to Aveta and Cindy. "This is Caroline Matumba. She's the head of OB/GYN here at Harbor Lights."

Caroline nodded to Cindy, then turned her attention to Aveta. "You are a transgenic as well?"

"Yes, I am a medical unit. I'll give you all the help you need." Aveta replied.

"I would not call you a unit. You are a person willing to help your friend in need. You can transfuse her, yes?" Seeing a nod of affirmation, she turned to Max.

"We need to take you to surgery now," she said gently. 

Max turned her head toward Logan, profound sadness passing between them. "Logan..."

"Max, don't talk," he interrupted gently. "Save your strength.  We'll get through this."

As the doctor began explaining the procedure, Max clutched Logan's hand. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"Shhh. You’re going to be all right. That's all that matters now," Logan said, controlling the worry in his voice.

"You hear that, boo? We ain't letting nothing happen to you," Cindy said fiercely.

When the orderly arrived to take Max, Logan and Original Cindy stayed at her side, each holding a hand, until they got to the doors of the operating room.

"I love you, Max," Logan said softly as Max was whisked away into surgery. He stood staring at the doors until Original Cindy touched his arm.

"Nothin' we can do here now, boo. Let's go get some coffee," she said, guiding him away.

***

For an hour, Cindy watched as Logan paced back and forth, wearing a hole in the already worn linoleum in the waiting room.  Finally, Logan looked down the hall to see Aveta walking toward him slowly, pale and obviously tired. He went to her quickly and helped her into a chair. "Are you okay?" he asked, and in a second breath, "How's Max?"

Aveta smiled sadly. "Max is fine. Caroline said there were no major problems. Go to her, Logan. We'll wait here."

Logan stood up, his shoulders slumped. "Thanks," he said huskily, and walked quickly toward the recovery room.

Cindy looked at Logan worriedly as she watched him walk down the hall.

 

Abandoned Office Building

Lydecker perched on the corner of an old, wooden desk and crossed his arms as he stared at Sandeman, sitting in an equally old chair, rubbing a sore spot on his shoulder.  "What did you tell them before we got there?" Lydecker asked in a low voice. 

"Only that it would take a lot of money and time to do what they wanted, to breed transgenics that could withstand that implant," Sandeman answered.  "Even if I had wanted to explain Manticore technology to them, they wouldn’t have been able to comprehend it." 

"You’d be surprised," Lydecker replied.  "This group has a lot invested in ‘that implant,’ but they’ve never been able to turn a profit, because all their soldiers die in six months." 

"Well, we don’t have to worry about that any longer, do we?" Sandeman said.  "Your soldiers took care of them quite efficiently." 

Lydecker snorted and shook his head.  "There are more where those came from.  You’re not out of danger, as long as they know you might be of use to them."

Just then, the door opened, and Zack walked into the small office.  "Is Max okay?" Lydecker asked him immediately. 

Zack shrugged.  "She wouldn’t tell me anything, said she was tired.  Yeah, right," he muttered.  

Sandeman sat quietly, a pensive look on his face.  He raised his eyes to meet Zack’s, and Zack saw something there.  "Did you do something to her?" he asked the older man.  "You know something, don’t you?" 

Sandeman sighed.  "No, I don’t know anything," he replied somberly.  "But...I would like to see her again.  I...I might be able to help, with whatever it is." 

"You’re going to get your wish," Lydecker said.  Both Zack and Sandeman looked at him in surprise. 

Harbor Lights Hospital - Two hours later

Aveta sat slumped in a chair in the waiting room. Original Cindy had gone in search of food and water. Aveta felt better, but she'd given Max a lot of blood and needed to replenish her fluids. She looked around at the surroundings. Sterile, unfeeling walls, green, aseptic; it reminded her of Manticore. She became cold at the thought. She looked around as if to escape her surroundings and saw Original Cindy walking toward her, carrying a tray with food and a large bottle of water.

"You okay? You looked like you were about to run away," Cindy said, sitting in a chair near Aveta. "Look at what I scored," she said, holding up her bounty. "Managed to scrounge up a blanket, too."

They both looked up to see Beverly Shankar walking toward them.

"The transfusion helped immeasurably. Max is much better for it," she said, noting the worry in Original Cindy's eyes. "She's sleeping."

"Then I did my job," Aveta said, smiling.

"Can I get you a couple more of those?" Beverly asked, nodding to the water bottle in Aveta's hand.

"I’d appreciate that," Aveta smiled.

"I’ll be back in a few minutes," Beverly smiled back.

***

Logan stood swaying on his feet, looking at Max sleeping. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He reached toward her, but stopped, afraid he would wake her. As the door opened, he turned and saw Beverly come in with Caroline Matumba.

"Mr. Cale, I think that you should go home and get some rest. Max will be fine here," Caroline said.

"I'm not going anywhere," Logan replied emphatically.

"As you wish. I'll check on Max in the morning. If everything is all right, she can go home then." Caroline smiled gently at Logan, then turned and left the room.

"Logan, at least let me get a cot in here for you," Beverly said.

Logan sighed and looked at Max. "Okay," he said, rubbing his eyes again.

Beverly nodded and stepped out of the room.

Moments later, an orderly rolled a cot into the room and set it up next to Max's bed.  Logan sat on the cot next to Max, holding her hand. He fell asleep, his hand entwined in hers.

***

Beverly came back into the room and saw Logan asleep. She smiled and quietly closed the door, then walked to the waiting room and found Cindy and Aveta still waiting. She handed Aveta two more water bottles.

"They’re both asleep," she reported with a relieved smile. "Let's go get my car and I'll drive you home," she said, turning and walking away, followed by Aveta and Original Cindy.

 

Max's Apartment - Sunday morning, January 9, 2022

Original Cindy waited outside of her building. She saw Logan pull up and watched him get the wheelchair out of the car and move into it. Logan wheeled around the car to open Max's door. Max got out, looking pale and tired, slightly unsteady on her feet. Cindy saw Logan say something to Max and she sank down on his lap. Max put her head on Logan's shoulder and he put his arms around her protectively. He looked up and saw Original Cindy waiting. He tried to smile and failed. Slowly he wheeled to the building and went inside, carrying Max on his lap, as Cindy followed.

Logan wheeled to the service elevator that carried them upstairs. Cindy walked ahead to open the door. Logan came in the door and navigated the apartment to Max's bed. Cindy watched Logan engulf Max in his arms once again, holding her. Max buried her head in his chest for a moment, then slowly stood, still a little unsteady, her normal recuperative powers undone by stress and grief. She lay down on the bed, not bothering to take off her clothes, and stared at the ceiling. She turned to Logan, looking tired and wan. "Logan...I need some time alone. Do you understand?" Max whispered.

Logan quietly said, "Okay, I'll call you."  He kissed Max on the forehead and gently placed the covers over her. He turned to look at Original Cindy. "Call me if Max needs anything," he said, and left, turning back to look at Max one more time.

Original Cindy watched over Max as she slept. An hour later, she went to the window and saw Logan's car still sitting there, and she knew he was waiting. She turned away, tears falling freely.

 

Max's Apartment - Sunday afternoon

Original Cindy watched Max as she sat in bed, propped up against the pillows.

"You need to eat something," Original Cindy told her.

"Not hungry," Max replied. She moved slightly, then returned to staring out the window.

Cindy walked over to where Max was sitting. She sat down and took Max by the arms, and turned Max to face her. "Max, you're hurting. I know that, but you have to let me help you. Don't shut out your friends."

Max looked at Cindy. "I can't..."

The phone rang. Cindy looked at Max meaningfully as she picked up the phone and handed it to her.  "Don't even need caller ID on this one, boo."

Max took the phone apprehensively. "Hey," she said.

Logan replied, "Hey, yourself. How are you doing?"

"I'm okay. Still tired."

"Yeah...Listen, mind if I come by tonight?" Logan said quietly, hopefully.

"Yeah, I mind," Max said, looking up at Original Cindy with a spark of life.  "I'll swing by your place."

"You don't have to..." he began.

"Gotta get out of this place," she interrupted.  "I'll be there."

Max looked up to see Original Cindy looking at her with a smile. "Girl finally comes to her senses.  But he's going to want to talk about this...if you can't talk to Logan, you know you can always talk to me, 'cause you know as much as Original Cindy loves to give advice, she's a damn fine listener, too."

Max fidgeted in the bed for a moment, then said softly, "I wanted this baby, but I can’t help thinking that if I had it, I would have messed up its life. Is it wrong to feel...relieved?"

"Max, if you feel it, it's not wrong. You've had so much happen to you in your life, it's a wonder you got as far as you did. No, you're not a bad person. You have a good heart." Cindy reached out and touched Max gently. "My mama always told me that God don't give you no more than you can handle. It's just not the right time for you."

"Yeah...maybe," Max answered with a shrug.

 

Logan’s Penthouse

Logan wheeled slowly across his apartment. He stopped and stared out the window into nothingness. After several long minutes, he turned to the exercise room and quickly strapped on the exoskeleton. He grabbed his keys and walked out of the apartment.

As he drove through the streets toward Terminal City, he noted an increase of military vehicles. It took him longer than usual to get through the checkpoints. He finally found a parking space two blocks away and began to walk.

As he reached the interior of Terminal City, near the infirmary, he saw a woman carrying an infant as she walked away. His face fell, and he quickly looked away. He quietly opened the door and slipped in. He saw Tia treating another patient and looked for Aveta. He saw her talking on the phone.

Aveta saw Logan and waved him into her office as she quickly finished her call. "Hey, Logan, let me get you the patch.  Last one, right?"

"Yeah, this is it. Not that it's good news. At least having pain meant I still had some use of my legs. It's pretty much gone now," Logan replied ruefully as he unbuttoned his shirt.

Aveta looked at him closely as she placed the Fentanyl patch on his shoulder for the last time. "I'm sorry, Logan. I wish there was more I could have done," she said quietly.

"Hey, you did the best you could, and I appreciate that...I made the choice not to go chasing a cure, so I guess I'll have to live with it," Logan said sadly.

"There's a potential cure?" Aveta exclaimed. "Is it still a viable option?"

"I don't know. I'm sure it's too late now."

"Logan," Aveta said with quiet intensity, "if you have even a small chance for a cure, you should take it. Max would want you to."

At the mention of Max's name, Logan's eyes clouded in pain.

"How are you and Max holding up?" she asked gently.

There was a quick intake of breath before Logan replied, "We're doing okay."

"You're not a good liar, you know." Aveta gently took Logan's hand in her bare hand. "Let me help."

"Aveta, I appreciate your help, but once Max is okay, I’ll be okay..." He slipped his hand from Aveta's. "Listen, I've got to get going." He quickly turned for the door, but turned back for one brief moment and added, "Thanks...for everything." Then he walked slowly away.

Aveta watched him, then sighed and went back to her work.

Logan walked around the corner of the building. He leaned against the wall, then slowly slid down it, burying his head in his hands. He sat there immobile for an eternity, not moving. Finally, he struggled to his feet and began the trudge back to his car.

 

Logan’s Penthouse - that evening

"Hey, you." Max’s soft greeting made Logan look up from where he sitting on the therapy table, doing bicep curls. 

He froze, then put down the weight immediately and picked up his glasses, sliding them onto his sweaty nose.  "You're early," he observed.   

Max nodded.  "I heal fast," she said by way of explanation, sticking her hands in her baggy cargo pants and shifting awkwardly. 

Logan nodded, then transferred into the wheelchair and wheeled to the doorway, stopping in front of her.  "I’m glad you’re here. I..."

A knock at the door interrupted him, and he sighed heavily before going to the door and opening it to reveal Zack, half-hiding Sandeman behind him.  "Right on time," Logan muttered.

"What?" Zack asked.

"Nothing.  Come in," Logan told them.  "Need rescuing again?"

"In a manner of speaking," Sandeman answered, stepping out from behind Zack and giving Logan a thorough once-over. 

Logan waved at the chair and said, "Long story," just as he had to Zack nearly two years before. "Well, I’m glad you’re all okay.  Figured Soldier Central would have moved out last night," he said, glancing again at Zack.  "Unless your base of operations is in Seattle...?"

Zack crossed his arms and shrugged, narrowing his eyes at Logan.  "We’re here because the old man needs a new identity."

"And we thought you might be so kind as to come up with some new documentation for me," Sandeman added to soften the request. 

Logan nodded.  "Sure thing.  Have to give me a while, though." 

"I think Max and I need some time alone anyway," Sandeman interjected, and after Logan pointed to the living room, Max and Sandeman headed in that direction.  Logan went after them, slid the translucent screen closed, then returned to the computer. 

"So...you been keeping an eye on her?" Zack asked Logan facetiously. 

"Yeah," Logan answered, without looking at the screen. 

"So, what’s up with her?  And don’t tell me she’s overextended.  Manticore didn’t believe in overextended." 

Logan stopped typing and looked up him.  "You’ll have to ask Max yourself," he said firmly. 

Zack stared back at him, obviously concerned.  He pushed away from the computer desk and started to follow them into the living room, but Logan unlocked the brakes on the chair and turned, making Zack stop and turn with the sound of his voice.  "Not now, Zack.  Do it later.  Right now she needs this..." Logan waved in the direction of the living room, "...with him."

***

Out in the living room, Max was sitting uneasily in one of the chairs, across from Sandeman, who had taken up residence on one end of the couch.  They sat in silence for a minute before Sandeman spoke up.  "Are you...are you pregnant, Max?" 

Pain washed over Max’s face, and she struggled to maintain composure.  "No," she said, in almost a whisper.  "Not...not anymore." 

Sandeman sighed heavily, then stood up and rubbed his forehead as he walked to the window to stare out at the night sky.  "I’m sorry to hear that," he said in an equally soft voice.  "I...I should have told you about the runes.  More about them, I mean.  I just...we had to wait, to make sure that your immunity wasn’t needed anymore," he said. 

"Quit with the riddles already," Max said shortly.  When he didn’t say anything immediately, she remembered what he had said to her in Terminal City. 

"You’re going to share your immunity," Sandeman answered with a smile.  "This is your body’s primary function.  It’ll stop anything that gets in the way. Any infection, any cell, anything."

"I did this, didn’t I?" Max said flatly.  "I knew it.  Yet again Manticore managed to screw me up more than I thought they could.  More than I thought you could," she repeated.  "Do you have any idea how twisted this whole thing is?" 

Sandeman turned to her, sorrow etched into his features.  "I didn’t expect you to...so soon," he said.  "It’s my fault."  He came back to the sofa and sat down, reaching for Max’s hand.  She moved her hand away and his hand landed on her knee. 

"Yes, Max.  Your immunity means that you can’t carry a child to term, just by its definition.  But I knew that would be the case when I...I designed you, and so I coded some of the runes to appear later, after you saved the world from the Conclave.  The new ones instruct you how to disable your body’s immunity to carry the child." 

"Except it’s too damn late," Max said bitterly.  This time it was her turn to get up and pace back and forth. 

"It is too late this time, but there will be another time.  I'll give you what you need so that you won't have to go through this again.  I know that doesn't erase your pain...I’m sorry.  I...there are no words, Max.  I have used you since the moment you were conceived.  Used you for the greater good of mankind.  But now...that’s neither here nor there.  And for what it’s worth, it’s over.  You’ve served your purpose, and I am deeply sorry that that purpose cost you so much.  That I cost you so much."

***

Logan and Zack were studiously avoiding each other in the computer room, Logan working on setting Sandeman up with a new identity, and Zack sitting silently in the corner chair.  They both looked up when Max slid open the screen. 

"You worked your magic yet?" Max asked, making a half-hearted effort to sound cheerful.  Her voice was tired, and Logan continued looking over his shoulder at her, concern evident on his face.

"Not quite.  The records are created, but the documents take a little while longer to produce.  I made the call, though, so all you have to do is go to this address..." Logan held out a piece of paper to Zack, who walked over to get it, "...and give them that name.  Not mine, please."

Zack flashed a rare half-grin at Logan, which earned him a steely glare from Max, until he held up both palms in a gesture of surrender.

"Thank you, Logan," Sandeman said from the corner of the room.  "I should have asked for your help before, but I didn’t know the extent of your resources, and I was in a bit of a hurry." 

"Yeah, about that," Logan said.  "How did you know you’d still be in danger?  And what did you do with Ray?" 

"If there’s anything I’ve learned over the years, it’s that there are a lot of people out there who want to use me and my knowledge for their own purposes...just as they want to use the products of that knowledge, Max and her siblings.  And as for Ray, he’s safe, don’t worry.  I might take chances with my own life, but not with his.  Now that I have a new identity, we can start over somewhere."

"At least now that we know what name you’ll be using, we’ll be able find you.  If we have any more...questions," Max said. 

Sandeman nodded.  "Yes.  I...it will be up to you, Max, how much contact we have in the future.  But I...thank you, for what you’ve done for me...and for the woman you’ve become." 

"Family hour over?" Zack asked in typical fashion.  "'Cause if we don’t rendezvous pretty soon, they’re going to come looking for us." 

"Better take off then," Max said, crossing her arms across her chest and trying to look aloof. 

"Don’t think you’re off the hook, " Zack said, giving her a quick hug.  "I'll be in touch."  He nodded briefly at Logan.  

"Zack, until next time," Logan said dryly.  To Sandeman, he said, "Take care of Ray." 

"Always," the older man responded.  Sandeman looked at Max, but she didn’t reach out to him, so he didn’t move closer.  "Take care of each other," he said to both of them, and then he and Zack were gone. 

Instead of perching on the computer desk as she often did, Max turned and went back into the living room, so Logan followed her, stopping just in front of the coffee table as she went over to the window.  "Want to talk about it?" he asked her softly. 

She shook her head and turned to him, her eyes filled with tears.  "I just want to go to bed.  Take me to bed." 

***

Max sat up in the bed, watching Logan as he wheeled into the bedroom, carrying two steaming mugs on a tray. He handed her a mug, then transferred onto the bed beside her.

"No coffee?" Max asked.

"Chamomile tea. It will help relax you," he said quietly. "How are you doing?"

"Would you believe me if I said okay?" Max asked, not looking at him.

"No more than you would believe me," he replied, giving her a half-smile that didn't make it to his eyes.

Max turned to him and saw her pain reflected in his eyes. She let go, tears of grief and guilt finally making their way down her cheeks. Logan held her in his arms as she cried. "Logan, I'm so sorry," she finally whispered.

"It's okay. Shhhh," he murmured as he held her gently. He pulled the blanket around Max and himself, holding her until she fell asleep. He brushed a stray hair from her face, and cradled her in his arms, content to hold her as long as she needed.