Chaos Theory – Chapter 21

Making Headway

2020, 30 miles north of Seattle, Washington – Manticore Facility

“Get your hands off me! Are you tripping?!” she jumped back as if burned, and if she admit it to herself she had been. She could still feel the rippling heat where his fingers had brushed her skin.

Hurt and anger flashed in his eyes. Still confused by the strange new sensations coursing through him, Alec tried to brush off her rejection coolly and retain his dignity. No girl had ever turned him down; they generally threw themselves at him. In a way, 452’s rejection was refreshing even as it stung.

“Being locked up in here with only you for company must be messing with me head. And as for your insubordination, I’ll this one pass. But once we’re back upstairs, sweetheart, you’ll treat me with all the respect due a superior officer.”

He was angry. Upset that he’d shared his feelings with her, feelings he didn’t quite understand. He felt a bit guilty as he saw her eyes widen and an emotion akin to fear flashed in them before the blank mask fell into place. He would never really do that to her – pull rank. But he’d been hurt by her denial and run his mouth off.

Max looked at Alec dumbly. After a moment she murmured in his direction, eyes fastened to the ground. “I’m sorry…Sir,” she forced herself to acknowledge his superiority. You don’t want him reporting you – not after Deck cleared you from re-indoctrination! Fall in! Play the part, Max!

Seeing her look of contrition, Alec took pity on her. “No harm, no foul. It never happened.” He glanced at his watch and sighed. “I’m gonna get some shut-eye.”

As he turned to his bunk, Max’s soft voice reached his ears. “Alec?” His eyes were questioning as he looked at her. “What should I expect tomorrow?”

She looked small and lost, a stark contrast from the girl with the kick-ass attitude he’d gotten to know and, if he admit it, to like. He decided honesty was the best policy.

“’09ers have a bad rep here. We went through a lot of shit because of the stunt you guys pulled breaking out, and everyone blames you for it. It won’t be pretty, Max. The best advice I can give you is to take it, swallow it and prove them wrong.” Prove me wrong. Show me what you’re made of.

She nodded wordlessly and turned to her own bunk when she caught his parting shot.

“You’ll call me ‘Sir’ in public…though screaming ‘Alec!’ in private works for me…” he said cockily. I love the fire in your eyes when you’re angry. You’re even sexier when you’re mad. Come on, Max. Get mad!

She faced him angrily and caught his smirk, his eyes dancing merrily. And just when I thought you might be a decent guy, she thought bitterly, clenching her fists at her sides.

“Fuck you,” she ground out quietly as she lay back on the bed and turned to face the wall. She closed her eyes and prayed sleep would claim her quickly, eager to drift into her dreams – any dreams – so long as they didn’t include him.

His whispered reply permeated her semi-conscious state and she shook with rage in response. “Whenever you want, sweetheart.”

Lydecker sat in his office, patiently listening in on Renfro’s telephone conversation.

“No, we haven’t found her yet,” Renfro replied curtly.

“So you’ve tested all the females except those that escaped in ’09,” a gruff male voice came over the line.

“That’s right. But we’re about to remedy that. We’ve recaptured one of the rogues. We’ll begin testing shortly.”

Testing? I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that, Elizabeth.

“Very well, Elizabeth. I trust you’ll keep us informed of your progress.”

“You needn’t worry, Ames. Stephan and Jules are in place. They will relay everything there is to know.”

“Excellent. We’ll see you at the Gathering on Friday. Fe’nos tol.”

“Fe’nos tol.”

Gathering? I need more information on that. Lydecker rubbed his temples as he ran the conversation through his head again. He had to make sure Renfro didn’t get those tests results.

He picked up the phone and dialed.

“Slavitz? Lydecker here. I’m calling in a favor. I need two soldiers for a side job. Can you spare me X5-598 and X5-511? It’s completely hush-hush and off the books.” He paused a moment. “Thursday, 2100 hours. I’ll pick them up myself. Thanks.”

Lydecker disconnected and quickly made another call.

“Hannah? Deck. We need to talk,” he said brusquely. “Meet me at the usual place, same time as before.”

Hanging up the phone, Lydecker hid the equipment away and hurried from his office.

2020, Post-Pulse, Elsewhere USA

The television blared in the background, his brother was pacing steadily behind him and the dog was barking and chasing something around the house. But none of this registered with Zack. He stood in the living room, lost in thought.

It had been three days. Three days since he’d picked up his messages. Three days since Zack had found out that Tinga was in trouble. His heart hurt just thinking of how he should have been there for her; should have given her another way of contacting him. He was the big brother, the C.O.; the one who protected and watched over them. And he’d failed her. Failed all of them.

“Zack? I’m in trouble. Manticore’s on to me. I need your help. You have to get my family – I had to leave them behind. I know how you feel about them, Zack, but please – don’t leave them unprotected.”

He could still hear the panic in her voice, the pain and uncertainty as she begged him to look after her family.

“Shit! Zack – just do it!”

Her final cry of desperation had made his blood run cold. He’d only ever heard a cry so sad, full of pain, frightened and despaired once before. Niah. The memory hit him like a jolt of lightening, anger searing him deep within.

I will  protect them, Tinga. I won’t let them hurt any of you , ever again.

Zack clenched his hands into tight fists. Now he had much more to worry about. Not only was Tinga missing, but he hadn’t heard from Jondy for a while; she wasn’t returning his calls, and apparently, according to the message embedded in the Eyes Only broadcasts, Max was in danger.

Zack stared blankly at the television screen, worry evident in  his every feature. Zane came to stand behind him, laying a hand on his big brother’s shoulder in a gesture of comfort.

“We’ll find her, bro,” he said softly.

“I should have found her a long time ago, Zane. But I kept trying to convince myself she’d be safer if we weren’t’ concentrated in one place. Meanwhile, all of us have been in close contact. She and Ben are the only ones we haven’t seen in years.” Zack closed his eyes and leaned against the wall.

Zane turned Zack to face him. “If this Eyes Only guy keeps sending out this message, maybe we should check it out. I know you’re afraid it might be a trap, but what if it isn’t? What if Maxie knows the guy? What if he can help?”

Zack peered at his brother through narrowed eyes. “He’s an Ordinary, Zane. What could he possibly know?”

Zane picked up his cell phone and hit speed dial. While he waited for the call to connect, he offered a quiet reply. “We won’t know until we ask, will we?”

Zane wandered off to continue his call and Zack stared at the screen again. It was imperceptible to the ordinary human eye, but the quick flash of Max’s barcode and the following danger symbol had repeated themselves every hour, on the hour, for over a week. He owed it to her to check this Eyes Only guy out.

Zane bounded back into the room waving his phone in the air.

“Zack! Krit and Syl found them; they’re safe. They should be here with Charlie and Case tomorrow,” Zane let out in a rush, relief rolling off him in waves. Tinga, we’ve got your family; they’re safe. We’ll find you too, sis. Just hold on…

 Zack was having similar thoughts as Zane’s excited words filtered through. We haven’t given up on you, Tinga. We’re coming for you, little sister.

“Krit still on the phone?” he asked quickly. Zane nodded. “Tell him to bring them here and lay low. You and I are going after Eyes Only. We’ll be in contact as soon as we know anything.”

Zack nudged the molding on the doorframe aside and slipped his hand into the exposed crevasse. He pulled out an extra handgun and tossed it at Zane who had just hung up the phone. A bag had materialized at his feet, full to the brim with various pieces of equipment they might need. Zane slipped his laptop inside and closed the bag.

“You ready?” Again Zane nodded wordlessly. Zack slipped his gun into the waistband of his pants and zipped up his jacket. Nodding at the door, he called to Zane. “Alright, bro. Let’s move out!”