Chaos Theory – Chapter 1

Enter Max

2020, Post-Pulse Seattle, Washington – Present Day

 

The image came to her mind as she tried desperately to still her shaking body. 

Jack. Lying prone and still on the metal table in the infirmary, he had never looked so small. Doctors in white lab coats bent over his body, cutting into his flesh as if he was a piece of meat. And the blood. So much blood. They were killing her brother and she was powerless to help him.

And the Colonel? He just stood there, drinking coffee…

Max moaned in her sleep, her breathing ragged. She thrashed in her bed, deep in the throes of a nightmare.

Her unit or ‘family’ gathered around her. Zack addressed them in a frantic whisper. “We leave tonight. I won’t let them take another one of us away. Eva, Ash, Jondy, Krit; monitor the hallway and hold position. Ben, take Max. Move out!”

They crept slowly and silently down the corridor. Zack motioned to Syl, Tinga, Seth, Zane and the others. They nodded.

She was having a hard time paying attention. She had just closed her eyes when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Zack signed to wait and they held their breath.

Lydecker’s large and formidable form materialized at the end of the hallway flanked by guards on either side. Zack assessed the situation quickly. He was always attentive to detail and never once let down his guard. The Colonel showing up now was a complication but the need to keep the unit safe and his intense desire for freedom called for immediate action.

Max was still seizing. She saw Eva step in front of her.  

The small man to the Colonel’s left was holding his gun in a shaky hand. Through half-closed eyes, Max followed the direction of Eva’s glare. She shuddered harder. A very angry Lydecker had planted himself in front of them.   

Launching herself with a running jump, Eva kicked out at a guard as she did a flip, mid-air. The guard went down and his firearm skidded across the floor. Eva quickly rolled, landing in a crouch next to the gun. She raised it with steady hands and took aim.

A shot fired out and Eva crumpled to the floor before their eyes, a gaping hole in her chest. Max looked up into the barrel of the Colonel’s smoking gun. And as the life slowly drained from their sister’s body, they hurtled through the windows lining the corridor and tumbled out into the night.  

Max had a strange and complicated genetic make-up. Human DNA, feline DNA, assorted other DNA, and shark DNA being one of few in her cocktail. The shark bit was a real hassle. Sharks don’t sleep. On the best of days, Max was lucky to get two hours. However, with the frequent nightmares she considered herself lucky to get any sleep at all.

Max fell off the bed and let out a piercing scream.

Kendra, Max’s roommate, woke up to the loud scream coming from the adjoining bedroom. Max must have had another nightmare, she thought, quickly rising from her bed and rushing to the other room. I haven’t gotten much sleep since she moved in here, she sighed, tiredly. But Max was her friend and friends did what needed to be done. Kendra kneeled beside Max and gathered her into her arms, crooning softly.

She gently lifted her friend’s shuddering form and laid her down on the bed, smoothing a blanket over her. She then tiptoed out of the room and quietly closed the door behind her.

Kendra often wondered what Max’s past had been like to cause the terrible nightmares that plagued her each night. By day, Max was a bundle of energy and a load of fun. She laughed and joked and smiled. But Kendra could see what most people couldn’t; Max’s smiles never quite reached her eyes and the sadness she caught there was heartbreaking.

Sometimes she thought it looked like Max wanted to tell her. Wanted to let her in on whatever dark, painful secret she was keeping. But she always seemed to clam up at the last second. Kendra didn’t push; Max would open up to her when she felt comfortable enough. And Kendra would be there for her when she did.

She looked at her watch. It was almost six o’clock . Resisting the urge to climb back into the warm confines of her inviting bed, Kendra padded into the bathroom to begin her morning ritual.

Max stirred and opened her eyes. She pulled herself up and winced at the slight pain in her side. Damn nightmares. She looked down to see a the fading remnant of a small gash. Her advanced healing abilities had kicked in and the wound had closed. 

“Kendra?” she called out. “Get out of that bathroom already! We’re gonna be late for work and I still need to shower!”

“Take a chill pill, Max” came the muffled reply, as her roommate exited the now steam-filled bathroom. “And before you bite my head off, I left you some hot water.”

Max glared at her roommate. She wasn’t a morning person and any a.m. conversations usually turned into heated confrontations. She didn’t mean to be crabby, but before she’d had her morning caffeine fix, she was a bitch. Plain and simple.

“Sorry, Kend.” She answered. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she lowered her voice. “Oh, and thanks for your help last night.” Max flashed her a grateful look. Kendra was always there for her and she never disappointed.

Kendra’s face lit up with a genuine smile. “Hey, what are friends for?”

Tonight’s gonna be fun, she thought as she scanned her closet looking for the perfect dress. Tonight was Paradigm’s annual company dinner and most of Seattle ’s upper crust  would be there. The perfect place to find the perfect score.

Max had started working for Paradigm about 6 months before. She’d been new in town and didn’t know anyone. She met Kendra at Crash, the local hang-out, and they’d hit it off right away. There had been an opening at Paradigm, the software company where Kendra worked as a receptionist. Max snapped up the opportunity and had been there ever since.

Kendra had welcomed max into her home and heart and they’d become fast friends. Admittedly, the apartment was a dump. They were squatters – 6 flights up in a dilapidated old building with pipe trouble and electricity that fizzled out more than it actually worked. But it was a roof over their heads and the bribes they paid to the local police were less than rent would have been had they gone legal. For Max it was a blessing. There were reasons she couldn’t legally rent an apartment so squatting suited her just fine.

Maybe I’ll find some poor bastard tonight with more money than brains. Excitement coursed through her. A good heist always got her adrenaline pumping and it had been a while since her last B&E. Max’s thoughts trailed off as she caught Kendra’s eye.

“Max, you got that look in your eye again.” Cocking her head, she frowned in concentration. “Kinda like…You got laid didn’t you! Finally!”

Max burst out laughing. “Not quite!” Kendra was always going on about sex.

“Girl, the lack of a man in your life is just so wrong. It’s depressing. Being celibate just isn’t healthy! Go out there, get a man and get laid!” 

Max’s face clouded over. It was true, she hadn’t had sex in months, but Kendra couldn’t possibly understand why. It all came down to her screwed up genetics. Everything always did.

The part of Max that was feline complicated her sex life. Three times a year Max experienced a heat cycle. She would, as the term indicated, get hot and bothered and jump any member of the three-legged race. As long as the essential parts were in working order, she was powerless to control herself. It was after episodes of heat-induced coupling that she felt most vulnerable and dirty. Max had grown to dislike sex. Full stop.

Her roommate wasn’t going to give up. Not this time. She’d seen Max’s reaction, the dark shadow that marred her friend’s delicate face. “Max, hon, you know I love you and I’d do anything for you. I really wish you’d trust me enough to tell me what’s going on. I hate this. What kind of friendship do we have if you don’t feel like you can talk to me?”

Max looked startled at the accusation and pain in her friend’s voice. “C’mon, Kend. You know I trust you! There’s just some things in my life that I like to keep private. Some things are better kept to myself.” Max wished she could explain but she couldn’t afford to let her secret out. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Kendra shook her head. “Whatever, Max. Forget it”

“Okay, so try this out for size. What would you say if I told you that I was a genetically engineered super soldier, created in a laboratory, raised in a military compound, all part of a top-secret scientific project under the auspices of the United States government?”

Kendra raised her eyebrows at Max and gave her a look. “Uh, hello, Bellevue?” and with that, giggling, she turned from the room and closed the door.

Max and Kendra stood at the top of the grand staircase. The ballroom below was teeming with people. Endless figures in fancy dress twirled on the dance floor, waiters carried trays of champagne and canapés, and music played in the background.

Logan Cale noticed the moment they entered. The two girls were as different as night and day. A medium built, leggy blonde with blue eyes and light coloring wore a sleeveless red dress that hugged her body. The other was a slim, curvy, brunette with brown, almond shaped eyes, full pouty lips and caramel skin. The soft cream silk gown she wore flowed gently behind her. They were both beautiful and all eyes turned to them as they made their way down the stairs.

Ever the gracious host, Logan stepped forward to greet them. 

“Good evening, ladies. I’m Logan Cale.” He smiled as he extended his hand. Max looked him up and down, taking in his highly polished shoes, tailored suit, silk tie, gold cuff links, silk shirt…and that watch. I could fence that for an easy two grand. She licked her lips. She’d have to keep her eye on this one. He projected the very image of wealth and power. The perfect sucker.

“Logan Cale as in Cale Industries? ” the blonde girl gushed, taking his hand firmly in hers, shaking it heartily. “I’m Kendra and my friend here is Max.”

Logan Cale. Where had she heard that name before? Oh, right! His family owned Paradigm. And here I am planning to rip him off. He was practically the boss! Bigwig needs to share the wealth so that settles that any feelings of guilt quickly faded.

Max quickly nodded at him and tugged on Kendra’s arm.

“It was lovely meeting you, Mr. Cale, but my friend and I have to go.” And she turned, pulling the agitated blonde with her.

Max zipped up her black jacket and pulled on her gloves. She was dressed in her usual B&E attire: all black, form-fitting clothes to help blend into the night. She swept up her bag and placed the tools of the trade inside. She crept slowly out the apartment and down the stairs.

It had taken some work, but Max had managed to get the necessary information on Logan Cale. Mainly, his address. An address uptown. She’d done her research. It was time to see if the contents of his home were as sweet as she hoped.