"Are you three doing okay back
there?" Robert asked as he looked back as they rode through the city,
making sure Lydecker had not shoved anything lethal into their systems.
"Just a bit dizzy, whatever the fuck they
pumped into us is strong." Andrea said as she rubbed her head, a fierce
headache pounding, even with the adrenaline pumping.
"As to be expected, you are all
genetically enhanced killing machines, they have to pump the heavy shit into you
for any effect at all, hell, we were hard to interrogate before Manticore."
Jon said as he drove.
"First thing I'm going to do is make sure
Lydecker skipped down, we left him a body count and six crippled X5's, what
could he have left to throw at us?" Robert said as he looked back, stealing
another glance at Andrea.
"Perhaps a few new Trackers, or do you
think we truly are unique?" Jon replied.
"That's not a good thought, we may be
unrivalled when it comes to combat in all forms, but it could still be trouble,
they would not have a problem tracking us down." Robert said, reminding Jon
of what could result from a new wave of Trackers.
"We're here, let's ask Logan if he can
still tap into Manticore." Jon said as he pulled into what was a small
police station, into the side garage.
"Hopefully, the first thing I'm going to
do is take a shower and get all this blood off of me." Robert said as he
looked at his hands, they were covered in blood, as was his shirt, and the flesh
beneath, his tattered flak jacket lay on the floor of the SUV.
"You three may want to rest up, let the
drugs flush out, I make coffee strong, but not that strong, but since I saved
your ass and all, Max would you mind repaying me�" Jon said, looking back
and smiling.
"Robert, can I see that sword of yours, I
think Jon needs a shave around his balls." Max asked as she tapped Robert
on the shoulder.
"I thought you'd never ask." Robert
said as he pulled out the H&K CAWs, and started to withdraw the long sword
from its hidden sheath.
"Whoa, hold up, can't you two take a
joke?" Jon asked shocked, holding one hand in front of Robert�s face as
he withdrew the long sword.
"Not when it's coming from a perverted
sex maniac." Max replied, reminding Jon of how they all knew him.
"I just forgot, this katana is too nice
and good for you anyways, never mind." Robert said as he slid it back.
"It's about damn time you showed
up!" Yelled Logan as he and Bling burst through the door to the garage.
"You have got to learn to relax, we told
you, your delivery is right here, 2
X5's, and your girlfriend." Robert said
as he came out of the BMW X5, and took his glasses off.
"I can't believe you two crazy sons of
bitches pulled that off!" Logan said, standing there as he opened the door
for Max, and pulled her into a fierce hug.
"It would never have happened without
those ID's and the power outage, you did good work Cale, I just might consider
letting you cover my ass in a firefight." Jon said as he came out of the
SUV.
"I'm so glad you approve." Logan
said as he kissed Max, and she buried herself in him.
"You two made a huge risk in returning
for us, what would have happened if Lydecker had been prepared, we would be down
three of our own and our only chance at rescue." Zack said accusingly.
"Hey dipshit, I got shot with 83 fucking
9-mm Parabellum rounds from your own siblings to save your ass. You're free,
we're all alive, that's all that counts, Lydecker has a message, he'll clear out
fast." Robert said as he piled his guns onto a weapons rack, and took off
his trench coat.
"Leave him the fuck alone Zack, we would
be hauled back to Manticore if it weren't for these two." Andrea said as
she stepped over next to Robert damn, even
after getting shot with dozens of rounds he still looks great, but the question
still remains, can it and will it work?
"Maybe you should leave when Lydecker
clears out, I don't think you'd fit in around here very well." Jon said as
he set down his weapons.
"If I leave, Max and Andrea come with me,
you two need to escape Seattle, you were nearly taken back to Manticore
today." Zack replied.
"Drop that now, I told you they will stay
under my protection while they are here, you can go roam the country checking
out the rest of your siblings, but they stay here." Robert said, taking on
his cold tone once again, reminding Zack that he would get in the way of Zack
decided to remove his sisters in Seattle by force.
"It's not their decision, I'm their CO,
you two are under my authority." Zack said, eyeing Max and Andrea.
"Which is superseded by me, as of
now." Robert said as he quick-drew his long sword from the sheath on his
shotgun, bringing it around to point at Zack's throat.
"Break it up you two." Max said as
she lifted Robert's sword up with her finger, stepping between the two.
"Zack, I'm not leaving Seattle, neither
is Andrea, you can't make us go, and if you try, Robert and Jon will take
exception to it, who are you kidding?" Max asked, mocking Zack.
"You two never did think like soldiers,
when this over, I leave, you two can stay and get caught, I'm not taking the
fall for either of you this time." Zack said as he walked off, cursing and
musing to himself.
"What's his problem?" Logan asked
looking after Zack.
"Pseudo-soldier, was trained as a child,
thinks he is still a soldier, pathetic, if he gets out of line, let me know,
I'll deal with it." Robert said as he put his sword back in its sheath.
"Jon, come with me, we need to take a
quick trip to our shippers." Robert said to Jon as he came around back to
the SUV.
"Why?" Jon asked wondering what new
supplies had come in.
"Alex called, the retrovirus to correct
the rejection genes are in, a hot thing, they can't hold it long without drawing
attention." Robert said as he got back in.
"I see, well if you will excuse the two
of us, we have to correct the final flaw in our patterns, if this works out, you
two could say good-bye to your seizures." Jon said as he got back into the
driver's seat, and revved the engine up.
"We'll be back soon," Robert said,
as he stole one last look at Andrea maybe
I should consider it, she is quite beautiful, she's nice, smart, but why burden
her with someone like me?
"See you soon" Andrea said as they
drove off.
"Damn, if you two aren't banging the gong
by next week, it's because one of you died." Max said as he embraced Logan
again and kissed him.
"I don't know what you're talking
about" Andrea replied oh god, was I
really that transparent?
"I saw you two look at each other, don't
deny it, question is, will he act on it, or reject it?" Max replied as she
broke off of Logan's embrace.
"I don't know, I'm hoping for the former,
but he does seem a bit dark, but he took eighty-three bullets, and still got
back up to save me, how many men do that for a woman?" Andrea said as she
thought about Robert.
"Not many, I'd suggest you go for it,
he's got to be feeling something for you, maybe you just need to kick-start it,
now that the last barrier is removed." Max said as they all walked back
into the converted police station.
"I hope you're right, I want to be with
him, I know it now, but I�m just worried that it might be simple physical
attraction, nothing more." Andrea said as she collapsed on an old lumpy
couch.
"For your sake, I hope you succeed and it
is more meaningful than that, he needs someone like you, I just hope he realises
it before it's too late." Logan said as he and Max sat on another couch and
cuddled up to each other.
"I'm going to sleep, just don't make any
obnoxious cuddling noises, and if the urge to bang the gong strikes, get a
room." Andrea said as she passed out on the spot, and fell into a deep
sleep.
"Of course, we're very considerate, we'll
leave you to sleep, I need to take a shower anyways, clear my head." Max
said as she got up, and winked at Logan inviting him to join her.
********
"I guess the last barrier's been C4ed has
it not?" Jon said as he looked at Robert while he drove through the city,
to their holding service on the West Coast for new equipment.
"I don�t know what you are talking
about, enlighten me please." Robert said as he ran his hand through his
short crew-cut hair.
"I saw you two look at each other, the
pheromones are also in the air my friend, you two are going to be an item really
soon I imagine." Jon said as he turned.
"Fuck you perv, you know I'm just
checking her out, I can't get involved with a woman anyways, my lifestyle is not
that to involve a relationship with." Robert replied.
"You're throwing away a gorgeous babe
like Andrea because of what? The mission? Fuck the mission for once and do
something for yourself, I'm tired of seeing you go off alone at night, or just
sitting there alone with a bottle of Jacky D, go for it for fuck's sake! If you
don't try this with Andrea, you'll both regret it, furthermore, I will slam your
fucking face into the goddamn curb for fucking this one over, you need her man,
admit it!" Jon yelled at Robert as he negotiated a tight turn.
"You're the only person I know that
understand where I'm coming from, but you may be right this time, maybe it's
time I gave love a chance again." Robert said as he leaned back and sighed.
"You're damn right I know what I'm
talking about, you should do this man, I know you need this, you know, she
knows, Max and Logan probably know as well." Jon said as they stopped at an
unmarked warehouse, which was their shipping location, where guns, explosives,
their latest field equipment and other items came through.
"I'll give it a chance, I've got nothing
to lose, might as well see if I can inject some happiness back into this
extremely long brutal existence of mine." Robert said as he got out of the
SUV.
"You're damn fucking right you're giving
it a chance, otherwise I will beat your ass down!" Jon said as he got out
of the driver's side and slammed the door.
"Let's see if this stuff even works
before we think about reviving my sex life, no point in getting worked up over
nothing." Robert said as they knocked on the door to the warehouse.
"It's about time you two showed up, viral
agents are a hot item to keep lying around." Said their shipper, who
everyone called "Coil" for some bizarre reason.
"What's the cost and give it to us."
Robert said, not in the mood for haggling over the cost.
"Four hundred, in cash." Coil
replied.
"Expensive, but worth it." Robert
said as he took a bundle of cash out of his wallet and picked out the requisite
amount of money.
"Here, now our package?" Robert said
as he handed him the money.
"Take it, this things drawing attention,
just get it away from me, people are starting in inquire about why we're holding
biohazard substances." Coil said as he handed them a metal case.
"Fine, let me know when those .270 rounds
come in though, I need them soon for my custom rifle I�m building." Jon
said as Coil shut the door.
"Looks like we've got what we came
for." Robert said as he broke the lock off of the case containing the
substances, and flipped the case open revealing two syringes.
"Shall we?" Jon asked.
"No point in putting it off." Robert
said as he took off his trench coat and injected the syringe.
"Bottoms up." Jon said as he emptied
his syringe.
"Fuck, that hurts, when will we know if
it's taken effect?" Jon asked after about ten minutes.
"I still have X5 blood on this knife,
time for the 'acid' test I guess." Robert said as he cut himself with the
clean side of the blade, and then let the blood mingle. Robert then cursed, the
wound took nearly five minutes to bind, system strained to keep me alive,
lots of hits on important areas, have to take it easy, the last few days nearly
killed me.
"Incredible, this stuff is
fast-acting." Robert said, the blood had mingled, but no reaction, no
fizzing, no bubbling, he was in the clear and a relationship, fuck it�s
been awhile.
"Looks like you may just get a good lay
in this century." Jon said patting Robert on the shoulder.
"Just remember, I'll break the
twelve-hour record if nothing more than to infuriate you." Robert said as
they got into the SUV.
"You can't qualify, your partner is an
X5, your combined stamina's are far superior to me and Kendra." Jon
replied, grinning.
"Fine, I'll take 10 hours off our record,
but we'll still kick your ass." Robert said as they drove back.
"Smartass, just wait till I get Kendra
and I, plus�" Jon said before Robert cut him off.
"If that train of thought involves Andrea
or Max, I'll derail it for you." Robert said as he cut off Jon's perverted
mind.
********
"I couldn't believe it when Robert and
Jon got us out of there, I was afraid I would have to go back to Manticore, and
never see you again, thanks for jamming up Lydecker." Max said as she stood
in the shower with Logan, burying herself into his embrace.
"Those two were ready to risk their lives
in an all-out assault, I secured for them a way to infiltrate, you're lucky to
have such vigilant protectors." Logan said as he kissed her forehead.
"I'm lucky to have Eyes Only the
protector of the downtrodden for a caretaker, I don't know what I'd do without
you." Max said as she kissed him back.
"Last time I checked that save just
evened us out on the scoreboard for saving each other." Logan said as he
cupped her head with his hands and pulled her into a long kiss.
"True, but how many guys will even go as
far as once to save their girlfriend in this world?" Max asked as they
broke off.
"Or how many genetically revved up
females will save their boyfriend?" Logan replied as they let the water
from the shower drum down on the two of them.
"Let's forget that score, just remember,
we're together, now, and that's all that matters, now let me show you how much I
appreciate a hero." Max said as she pulled in close to him and wrapped her
arms around him.
********
"We're back!" Jon yelled out as he
and Robert got out of the BMW X5.
"Did you get what you were looking
for?" Asked Bling as he came into the garage.
"Damn right, we are fully functional
Manticore prototypes now, with no rejection towards others." Robert said as
he took off his coat and slung it over a chair.
"I take it you are considering something
with Andrea?" Bling asked grinning, Robert scowled and looked back, Jon
also shared Bling�s grin, and both of them looked like they were not going to
lose it anytime soon.
"Does everyone here fucking know already?
Jesus fucking Christ and the 12 horny apostles, what does a guy around here have
to do to keep his private life private?" Robert said, pissed that everyone
seemed to know.
"You can start by not producing the scent
of sexual tension." Jon said tapping his nose.
"Of course you're going to know, but is
all of this really that obvious?" Robert asked, looking at Jon.
"Yes it is, you remind me of Max and
Logan from the beginning." Bling said as Robert cursed, furious that his
intent was well known.
"Just fucking great, would you two excuse
me, I have to take a shower, and get this blood off of me, I may have something
for Andrea, but it's not your business." Robert said as he tore off his
bloody and tattered shirt, riddled with bullet holes.
**********
"Son of a bitch, guess I really have been
that bad at hiding it, now what?" Robert mused to himself as he came out of
the shower and pulled his boxers and pants on.
"You can act on it, I'm ready."
Andrea said, she was standing a mere foot from him, she had crept up on him as
she had listened in. fuck, she heard it,
now what?
"I don't know what you're talking
about." Robert replied, but he knew the lie was as transparent as his
motives.
"Don't give me that bullshit, I heard
you, or are you also suffering from multiple personalities from your time at
Manticore?" Andrea asked accusingly staring intently at him.
"I don't have multiple personalities, now
would you kindly leave me alone, I have things to do." Robert said, running
his hand through his hair.
"Not until I get an answer that I like,
or do we have to play the sexual tension game like Max and Logan did for three
months?" Andrea asked gazing furiously into his eyes, mad that he was being
so stubborn about what she was proposing.
"Those two are different, I'm not the
high-minded caring protector of society, I'm a trained killer that can't be
killed by human hand." Robert replied, reminding her of the difference, and
listing off reasons for himself on why it was a bad idea.
"It doesn't matter to me, does it matter
to you that I'm a genetically enhanced killing machine?" Andrea asked as
she circled him, her right hand extended and her fingertips made contact with
his well-muscled chest, he tensed at the sensation has it been so long since
a woman touched you that way?
"You know it doesn't, but it's best for
both sides if we leave this alone, I spend most of my time designing explosives
and killing people, not saving the world." Robert said as he turned to face
her.
"You saved my life earlier, Max's and
Zack's or does that not count?" Andrea asked as she stopped.
"It's my mission, it was my fault all of
you never escaped in 2007 and I'm just repaying the debt bit by bit."
Robert replied, reminding himself of why he was even within sight of her.
"Settle the fucking account and do
something for yourself for once in your fucking existence." Andrea snapped
at him, her eyes blazed with fury what the hell is wrong with you?
"I don't have an existence, I have a
hollow shell of a life that involves killing people and blowing shit up."
Robert replied she doesn't care you
fucking moron, or are you too thickheaded to realise that?
"You don�t have to have that kind of
life, open up." Andrea said come on,
you've got to have something left that's warm in that cold heart of yours.
"When did my life become a group
decision?" Robert replied why should I get involved, then just watch her
age and die, she doesn�t deserve to die alone like that, I�d be the picture
of health, she�d be the picture of death.
"When we got involved." Andrea said,
hoping that she could get through to him.
"We never did get involved, its just
physical attraction we have here." Robert said cutting off the discussion
as best he could what do you mean? This is
most likely the most beautiful, intelligent, caring woman you'll ever be with,
and you're turning her down for some god-forsaken mission?
"It�s more than that and you know, just
act on it, we both want it and you know it." Andrea said, sighing, her
efforts were dying, not penetrating.
"You're better off with someone else, I
am not even close to being worthy of you." Robert said as he started to
walk away.
�Don�t say that, that�s my decision to
make, and I think we can be together, why are you slamming it down?� Andrea
said catching his arm and pulling him so they stood within an inch of each
other.
�Because I know what�s going to be best
for us in the long run, you don�t.� Robert said as he tried to ignore
Andrea�s charming scent that was amplified ten times over by his acute sense
of smell.
�No you don�t, you�re just making up an
excuse to keep your life the way it always is, or are you scared of what might
happen?� Andrea said as she raised
a hand and caressed the right side of Robert�s face, but he stiffened as the
contact was made. Pushing her away could be a mistake, but its for her best
interest, you can never be the man she needs and you know it.
�Just let it alone and don�t think that
anything we ever had could work out, now if you excuse me, I have better things
to do with my time.� Robert said turning away, until his sense of smell
detected a great deal of emotional pain coming from Andrea, and held back from
walking away. Don�t do it to her, she�s right about the two of you having
possibilities.You�re going to hurt her even more by doing this, and you know
the cardinal rule for your mission is not to hurt an X5 in any way. You have to
try this, you know it might work, she�s your best shot at getting your old
life back, before it was just about killing. Robert turned back, and then
slid one arm around Andrea�s waist, and drew her close, as she tucked her head
under his chin, he composed himself.
"I don't expect forgiveness for what I
just did to you, I know you hurt from what I just said, but I was lying, you do
matter to me, I was just too much of an idiot to admit it." Robert said as
Andrea�s own arms entwined themselves around his neck and looked up.
"I guess love does hurt." Andrea
said as their eyes locked together, Robert stood a good nine inches taller, but
he bent over enough to kiss her on the lips. The touch was simple at first, then
grew, as Andrea returned the kiss, and he deepened it, until they broke off.
"I see that there's something beating in
there after all?" Andrea said as she looked into his eyes and tapped the
location of his heart on his chest.
"I�ve never been one for admitting
emotions or giving a damn about anything, it just took a few friends to point
out what I've wanted for a long time." Robert said as he kissed her again.
"Your friend seemed to care enough not to
think with his dick on this one, I take it he provided some similar
advice?" Andrea asked as she buried herself in his embrace.
"I guess I just needed perspectives from
both genders on this issue, I've been berating myself on this issue for a few
days, I just couldn't decide what I needed to do with myself." Robert said
as he stroked her long black hair.
"When was the last time you were involved
with a woman?" Andrea asked as she ran a hand across his firm chest.
"Fifteen years, four months and seventeen
days, I've been out of the game a long time, if that's what you wanted to
know." Robert said as he brought her head up and kissed her again.
"Far too long, I sensed that you've been
without female company for a long time, I just didn�t realise it was that
long, after all, a handsome guy like you�" Andrea said as she returned
the kiss, and stroked his crew-cut hair.
"I just didn't feel right after Manticore,
always knowing what my partner felt, being able to kill any living thing when I
felt like it, I just didn�t feel human anymore. I imagine that you would have
had your pick of the men, especially during heat." Robert replied as he
drank in her scent with his amped-up nose intoxicating he thought.
"I was always on the run during most of
my heat cycles, I never really liked any of the jerks I met, but I do admit I
have my regret of choices during my heat cycle." Andrea said as they slid
down to the floor, and cuddled up.
"I would imagine, do I dare ask that all
of this is mainly because you're in heat?" Robert asked as he kissed her
and stroked her hair.
"Not for another two weeks by my
estimate, I don't need heat to point out what I feel for you." Andrea said
as she massaged his chest with smooth hands while she pulled him into a long
kiss.
"I was hoping you would say that,
otherwise that would just take away the moment." Robert said as they sat
there, locked in each other's embrace.
"You realise of course, Jon's going to
smell this, and everyone is going to know the minute we walk back out
there." Andrea said as she gently traced a finger across his chest.
"Like they wouldn't know when we walk out
of here smiling like hyenas?" Robert said grinning.
"I guess, but no point in moving for a
bit, let's let them guess for a bit." Andrea said as she smiled at him as
his hands started to excite nerves all along her body as he touched her.
"I can get behind that idea." Robert
said smiling as he pulled her into a long kiss that didn't stop until they were
both gasping for breath. Finally, this
two-meter idiot realises that I want him.
********
"Pay up." Jon said as he sniffed the
air, and confirmed his friend's activities, not sex, but he�s well on the
road to that destination.
"I seem to recall none of us taking that
bet, as we were all betting with you on that one." Max said as she sat
there next to Logan.
"Can't blame a guy for trying, did you
really think that those two weren't going to hook up?" Jon replied as he
sat back and smiled about damn time my
friend, you've been out of the game far too long, and she's probably the best
thing that will happen to you for a long time coming.
"I don't need your nose, those two were
going through the same thing Max and I were going through before Max knocked
some sense into me." Logan said as he patted Max's leg.
"I could smell the mood changes and hear
that argument, if he came out alone, I was going to bust his ass with a piece of
hot lead." Jon said as he set down a pistol he had been spinning on his
finger.
"You're such a good friend, the man
breaks off of a relationship, and you are ready to shoot his up." Max said
sarcastically.
"The man needs some tough love, he's got
to realise that there's more to life than killing people and blowing shit
up." Jon replied.
"I'd say he's getting some in
there." Logan said as Max leaned over onto Logan and he stroked her hair.
"To that hope, may Robert actually rise
above the ways of a simple soldier and join the rest of us." Jon said as he
raised a glass of whiskey and drank half of the contents of the glass.
**********
"You three have been brought here to deal
with a pair of renegades like yourself, same abilities, but you have superior
numbers on them. These are the files on your targets, find them and destroy
them, then recover the escaped X5's." Lydecker said addressing his newest
creations, his new Trackers.
"According to these files these men were
trained as Delta Force operatives, Delta Force has the most highly trained
soldiers in the United States, I'm not sure I can match these men."
Reported Matt as he read the files, he was formerly a Green Beret, but Delta
Force was the one thing that could strike fear into him.
"There are three of you, you can match
their strength, speed, absorb whatever they can absorb, and have their senses,
what else do you need?" Asked Lydecker.
"These guys are fucking tanks, this one
is two meters tall, and by your estimates, can lift 7 and a half tons, he's
trained in the form of Delta Force combat. He is also reported to be armed with
heavy weaponry and a specialist in hand-to-hand combat, including knife fighting
and martial arts styles. Our second target according to this report can
outmanuver us, and is similarly trained in hand to hand combat forms, how do we
match them?" Asked Chris, the other Green Beret.
"With your own skills, you will have one
additional person with you, two of you can easily put down one, whilst your
partner fights the other to a standstill, than all three of you kill them."
Answered Lydecker.
"These men have had thirteen years to
adapt to their abilities, we've had 13 days, that's hardly evening the fight
out." Said Brian, an ex-Army Ranger.
"Nevertheless, you will engage these men
and kill them, you Trackers all share the same unique scent. It will be child's
play tracking them down, find them and destroy them, retrieve the X5's, the
mission will be complete." Said Lydecker, cutting off the worries of his
latest weapons.
"Are we going to armed, or is this simply
hand to hand combat?" Asked Brian.
"Armed of course, we have an extensive
armoury, take your choice of weapons, find them, and destroy them." Replied
Lydecker as he left the briefing room.
"Time to kick some ass, we can take these
assholes, not a problem, we outnumber them, and we can match their
abilities." Said Matt as he got up and shut the folder he was holding.
"They are still Delta Force, it won't be
easy, we all saw the security camera footage, they will not go down easy."
Replied Brian as they entered the armoury and began picking out weapons.
"We have their scent, we outnumber them,
and we're packing, it will all be over in a few minutes, or do you not believe
in your new abilities?" Asked Chris as he loaded a Mossberg 590.
"I believe, but the question is, what do
they know about their abilities that we don't, they have training and experience
on us." Said Matt as he picked out a pair of MP5ks and loaded them.
"We have numbers, we find them, we waste
them, we haul the X5's ass all the way back to Manticore, and it's all over, we
are invincible, nothing to fear at all." Said Chris as he put spare shells
for the shotgun into a bandoleer.
"For all our sakes, I hope you�re
right, I don�t need to wind up in a chair, again." Brian said as he
picked out a FN FNC and loaded up on spare magazines.
"Let's kick some renegade ass." Said
Chris as they walked out to their waiting Hummer.
**********
"Think they're still waiting for us to
come out?" Andrea asked as she lay cuddled next to Robert.
"Jon once waited for six hours for a
porno to be delivered to his door, he's not leaving." Robert said, they
were still on the floor of the bathroom, enjoying each other's company.
"That's comforting, is there any way in
hell of us leaving this room without applause and backslaps?" Andrea asked.
"I doubt it, I bet Max and Logan are
sitting there with a bowl of popcorn waiting for us to come out." Robert
said as he turned her head towards him and kissed her.
"Should we face the music, or do you want
to use those nice muscles of yours to create a back exit?" Andrea said as
she ran her fingers across his well-muscled right arm, and traced along his wolf
tattoo.
"Logan might get pissy about me breaking
a wall down in his newly appropriated safe house, better deal with it."
Robert said as he came up and brought Andrea with him.
"We've managed to avoid them so far, is
there any way out of this?" Asked Andrea as she wrapped her arms around his
chest and kissed him.
"Hold on�" Robert said as he
fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a cell phone.
"A cell phone, you're going to make a
call and distract them? How stupid do you think they are?" Asked Andrea as
he dialled in a number.
"It's called bait and switch, works every
damn time." Robert said as he punched a code into the cell phone, then shut
it off and kissed her.
*Crack*
"What was that?" Asked Andrea,
puzzled at what had just happened, Robert pulled on one of his shirts and got
his urban boots on.
"I triggered a remote detonator, no
explosives were attached to it, but it got their attention, let's go for a walk,
fast." Robert said as he burst out the door with Andrea, everyone had run
to see the source of the explosion, Zack was nowhere to be soon though. He
grabbed his trench coat while he and Andrea slipped out before Max, Logan, Jon,
and Bling realised they been had, then it was too late.
**********
"I underestimated that smart son of a
bitch, he definitely likes to have a private life, even though it now involves
Andrea." Jon said as he looked at the smoking form of the detonator.
"Can you blame him, we weren't exactly
leaving those two alone, I didn't think he'd trigger a bomb to draw us off
though." Logan said as Jon kicked it into a metal bucket.
"Maybe those two would appreciate a bit
of solitude, as I recall, Robert went to great lengths to secure out solitude
from dick-for-brains." Max said as he pulled him into a kiss.
"I resent the term dick-for-brains, it's
coarse, it's uneducated and it's a cruelty to my kind!" Jon said.
"What would you prefer?" Max asked
mockingly.
"Male whose cerebral cortex has fallen
under the influence of his testicles." Jon replied.
"It doesn't have the same ring to it, I
like my definition." Max said as he walked off with Logan.
"Can't get one piece of respect around
here, what does a guy have to?" Jon mused to himself.
"You could try and lay off sex talk and
talking Max into a threesome with you and Kendra." Bling replied.
"Then that just takes all of the fun out
of living, if you will excuse me, I have to tamper with my guns." Jon said
as he sat down at a worktable and began to work at designing a new model rifle.
*********
"Nice day isn't it?" Robert asked as
he and Andrea walked down the street.
"A lot nicer than it was yesterday,
especially with a big strong escort." Andrea said as he leaned over and
kissed him.
"You certainly have the looks, I seem to
recall seeing other genetically enhanced prototypes such as yourself, but they
sure did one helluva job on you." Robert said as he pulled her close and
returned the kiss.
"Funny how things work out, had you not
been on the prowl a few years back, I'd be stuck in Manticore without ever
knowing you." Andrea said as they broke off and kept walking.
"I take great pride in my prowling
abilities, few women get to have their own bloodhound that also knows how to use
a toilet." Robert said as they veered off into a side street.
"I just hope you've got more self-control
than one, I saw one try and get it on with a poodle in a public park."
Andrea said as they walked.
"Give me more credit than�
Andrea!" Robert exclaimed as she fell over, a seizure claiming her.
"How unfortunate for you, your girlfriend
is having a seizure, you're outnumbered three to one, and unarmed." Came an
unidentified voice as Robert scooped Andrea up in his arms and started to walk
back towards their temporary base.
"Who the fuck are you?" Robert
asked, three unidentified men were standing there, wearing trench coats, two
were big, the third man was more medium-sized.
"What you are, Lydecker sent us to deal
with you, and bring her home." Said the centre man, he produced a Mossberg
590 from his trench coat, and levelled it.
"That fuck finally made more Trackers, no
matter, try and catch me." Robert said as he pulled a flash bang from his
trench coat and threw it at them, blinding them as he ran off full tilt,
carrying Andrea in his arms. He ran for a few minutes, dodging between alleys
and running by foul odours like trash bins and dead animals, until he hit a dead
end, and cursed himself for not seeing it coming.
"Nice try, but it's all over now, you
can't do anything to stop us." The lead man said, and produced the shotgun
once again.
"Maybe the two of us can." Jon said,
he had detected the scent of three other Trackers, he had brought Max with him
to help get Andrea away while he and Robert fought it out. He threw the Robert's
H&K CAWs over the heads of his foes, and Robert set Andrea down, caught it,
and withdrew his katana.
"Playtime is over boys, real thing
now." Robert said as Jon demonstrated his quick-draw abilities and shot the
weapons out of the hands of each the three Trackers, using precision aim he also
blew off the barrels.
"We still outnumber you, those two can't
make a difference, you can't win." Said the man on the left as he and the
man on the right approached Jon, the centre man approached Robert.
"We'll see about that." Robert said
as he turned the katana around into a striking position, and attacked. He moved
fast, slicing open wounds on his opponents chest, left leg, and right arm, but
all sealed themselves in seconds. His opponent tried for a kick that would have
blasted him the length of the alley, but Robert quickly avoided the blow and
delivered a kick to the chest that blasted him against the wall.
"You two really have to learn how to
fight!" Jon yelled out as he deflected the fist of one man and kicked back,
knocking the other man in the chest, then delivered a pair of hits that rocked
the first man back. The second man was recovering, but Jon spun and slashed his
forehead, blood poured over the man's eyes, blinding him as he dealt a punishing
kick that sent him into the wall. The first man charged, arcing a fist, but with
the incredible speed and grace that he commanded, he spun behind and planted a
kick that drove him and his partner together, and rolled around like a pair of
coconuts.
"You two don�t know who you're dealing
with." Said the lead man as he smashed Robert with a heavy blow that
knocked him beside the seizing form of Andrea, as Max sat there with her,
holding onto her as the seizure got worse. Gotta
hurry this shit up, she can't hold out forever. He knew Andrea was still
lucid, so he flashed Andrea a smile as leapt back up with ease.
"You'll have to do better than
that." Robert said as he delivered a trio of hits that did damage, but were
returned with a pair of fists that smashed him in the face, evening it out.
"I still know a few things you Green
Berets never learned." Robert said as he faked a high kick, but instead
leapt up and locked his legs around his opponent's neck and dragged him down. He
leapt back up immediately and kicked the form of the lead man over as he fought
to get back up. He reached out and gathered Robert's legs together, dropping him
down to the ground as well, but a quick swipe across the face with his katana
released the grip and he leapt back up once again, but so did his opponent.
"I may not win, but I can still cause you
pain." The lead man said as he produced a knife as he threw it, Robert
avoided it, Andrea was not so lucky. The knife plunged into her leg, it spewed
blood fuck! Artery hit, that's bad, hold
on Andrea, I'll get him for that. Robert thought, but the distraction was
all the lead man needed as he executed a powerful hit that sent Robert blasting
into the wall beside Andrea, he slumped down, his sword rolling away.
"I'm not done yet!" Robert said as
he picked up his katana. The sword had been soaking in the small pool of blood
from Andrea's leg that had just stopped thank
god for Manticore healing powers Robert thought. It struck him, Lydecker
probably still hasn't corrected his Tracker flaws, as Robert picked up his
sword, and then plunged it into the lead Trackers leg, right into an artery. The
payoff was perfect, the blood on his sword acted like an acid as it mixed with
his opponent's blood, then began to transform his opponent's own blood into
acid. It ate through the man's his, Robert knew that this effect was temporary,
as the healing powers would win out, but it was all he needed for his own
distraction. He withdrew the holstered sidearm on the man's right hip, an
H&K USP Tactical, and put it right into the man's eye, and fired. There was
no bone in the way to block the bullet, it tore through the eye and then into
his brain, ripping through and shredding his mind. No amount of healing powers
can fix brain damage like that, Robert knew it, he had pointed it out as the
weak point in his own body, the one point he could be hurt.
"You two just don't know when to quit do
you?" Jon said as he delivered a bone-shattering kick with all his might,
it broke the man's bone, a Tracker bone had been broken, but only at the hand,
or rather foot, of a Tracker. The man slumped, that foot had come into contact
with his head, he fell down, was about to get back up again, when Jon grabbed
the man's skull, hauled him up, and pressed a P14-45 into his eye "say
goodnight" were his words as he fired. The second man opened up on Jon with
a pair of MP5ks, tearing through his back, Jon fell over, but withdrew his own
USAS-12, and fired back four slugs. The shots drove the man back, he saw the
silvery form of Robert's katana as it sliced right into his heart, he fell down,
he reached to yank the sword out of him, but he knew it was too late. Robert and
Jon picked up dropped weapons and pointed them right into his eyes.
"We have never had opponents come close
to our level, you have reminded us that we are not invincible, you fought well,
but you chose the wrong side in this war." Robert said as they emptied
rounds that went right through his eyes and tore the brain apart.
"If you two towers of adrenaline are
quite down, we have a wounded person over here." Max called out as they
dropped the weapons.
"It's over, Lydecker has his message, now
let's go." Robert said as he picked up the shivering form of Andrea and
loaded her into the back of the BMW X5.
"Step on it, my girlfriend is suffering a
seizure and her leg isn't looking that hot either." Robert said as Jon and
Max jumped into the car.
"Whatever you say boss." Jon said as
he accelerated.
"Hold on, just hold on." Robert said
as he held the seizing form of Andrea in the back of the SUV, cursing Lydecker
for leaving such a debilitating illness in his children.
When they arrived back, Robert immediately
called Logan to do another set of stitching and bandaging on her leg as he fed
her some Tryptophan to knock back the effects of the seizure she was having. He
sat there next to her bedside as she went through the seizure, holding her hand.
How odd, I've been kicked, punched,
stabbed, shot, pumped up with god knows what, poisoned, bruised and generally
beaten, but I've never felt hurt like this. Robert thought as he sat there,
riding the seizure out with her.
"Some job you two are doing of keeping my
sisters safe." Were Zack's words, within three seconds, Robert drew his
P14-45 and fired four shots that shot by Zack.
"Not now, not ever, piss off poser, or I
do to you what I did to my opponents earlier today." Were Robert's words as
he turned, his face devoid of emotion.
"Just remember what your job is."
Zack replied.
"Why don't you just leave before it gets
ugly, we don't need you around here, go screw a goat, not Max, and leave
Seattle." Robert said as he sat there next to Andrea.
"I think I will, there are other X5's
that are still free, and they respect orders, leave them alone, they're my
responsibility." Zack answered as he eyed Robert.
"Not fucking lightly, they are all under
my protection, I know you won't tell them that this place is a haven for them
because Jon and I can protect the X5. Just remember, if an X5 asks for my help
and protection, let it slide, or I will break some bones." Robert snapped
back.
"When Max and Andrea are back at
Manticore, it will be on your head, just remember that." Zack said as he
walked off.
"When Manticore is burnt to the ground
and the X5's are free, try and pull that military-issue stick out of your ass
and stop jerking off to Max." Robert replied under his breath.
"You noticed it too did you?" Asked
Andrea, her voice was weak, but the seizure had passed.
"That he's a 20-something who can't let
go off some old training and has a thing for Max? God, anyone in the next three
states could tell that." Robert replied as he came over and sat next to her
on the bed and brushed a lock of hair off her face.
"He wants us to be good little soldiers
and do what he says, he doesn't get the point that he isn't a CO is his
problem." Andrea said as she lay there, drained from the seizure and knife
wound.
"I would imagine, I told him to piss off,
and to leave Seattle, you don't need him around, if you and Max started having
seizures, he'd pack you both up and haul you off to Canada." Robert said as
he sat up against the headboard of the bed and Andrea curled up with her head in
his lap.
"He would I bet, good thing you're around
to tell him off, I don't know what I'd do without you." Andrea said as
Robert held her hands in his.
"You can still kick his ass, you picked
up Delta Force techniques far faster than he did, plus I doubt he can provide
what you want from me." Robert said as he kissed her.
"Try and sleep, the past four days have
not been easy on you, I'll still be here in the morning." Robert said as
they lay there, content with each other's company.
"I don't want to wait, I've waited too
long already for someone like you, I want to be with you now." Andrea said
as she brought herself up and returned the kiss.
"You're more likely to pass out in the
next half hour than you are to get anything going, rest, I'll be here when you
wake up, just rest, you'll feel better when you wake up." Robert said as he
put her back down and held her down.
"What are you doing?" Andrea asked
as she was puzzled at Robert�s move.
"Making sure you sleep tonight, you need
rest, I can get the shit kicked out of me and keep going, you can't, I'll be
here, waiting, just sleep." Robert said as he pulled a sheet over her and
sat down.
"What happens if I refuse?" Andrea
asked accusingly.
"The Vulcan neck pinch" Robert
answered grinning.
"I didn't know that was possible."
Andrea inquired.
"A great wealth of information is
available for one who takes on the life of a Delta Force operative, except in
our version we just bash you on the head real good." Robert said as put a
kiss on her forehead.
"That doesn't sound like anything to do
with the neck." Andrea replied mockingly.
"You do wake up with a huge crink in your
neck because of the odd angle your head is at, just sleep." Robert said as
he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Alright, but if you're not here in the
morning, I'll show you the meaning of bitchslap." Andrea said as she pulled
him into one last kiss before she lay down and fell asleep almost immediately.
"I have no intention of finding out, I'll
be here." Robert said as he sat in the chair, then dozed off, looking at
the woman he had fallen in love with.
********
"Those two sleeping or what?" Max
asked Jon as he peered quickly into the room, then shut the door quietly.
"After a brief argument, yes, they are
both sleeping, Andrea in the bed, Robert in the chair, but tomorrow, I'm betting
just the bed." Jon said as he turned away.
"I'll take that bet." Max said as
they walked away. "I'm surprised that you haven't installed a peephole, or
has your brain managed to establish a beachfront in your nervous system?"
Max asked accusingly.
"I'm the same man I was yesterday, I just
have a certain respect for my friend." Jon replied.
"That and he'd kill you." Max said
making the age old you�re-dead sign by drawing a finger across her throat.
"That too, I like him, but he really
scares me when he's pissed." Jon confirmed as they walked back through to
the common area.
"Being friends for twenty-odd years,
that's quite an accomplishment." Max said as they continued.
"It is, but I'm probably boring you with
all this, why don't you go say hi to your boytoy." Jon replied.
"Would everyone quit calling Logan that,
use his name, but one thing, I want to know about Robert, when did he turn
violent like that, I know it was before Manticore." Max asked, delving into
the root of Robert's violent methods.
"It was in 2005, his girlfriend, a
helicopter pilot that provided transport for our squad, was shot down by
Colombian guerrillas, he loved her a lot, he was never the same since." Jon
replied.
"It kind of fits, him not wanting to hook
up again, afraid that whatever woman he hooked up with would get killed, but
thirteen years, I don't know. I have to know, did his time at Manticore push him
over the edge like that, was it the time spent suffering the changes, the
training, or seeing what Lydecker did to us?" Max asked, further trying to
get into Robert's mind from the most reliable source, she knew Robert would
never talk about it.
"It was all three, he seemed to lose
connection with his humanity at times, the mission to protect you kids, he let
it consume him, probably what kept him borderline the whole time. I think now
that he's finally having success for the first time in eleven years to protect
you kids, the fact that he has friends he can rely on, and Andrea, he may just
have rejoined the rest of us." Jon said as he went into his room.
"I hope so, he seems like a nice guy now,
he's trustworthy, he's loyal to his friends, and hates Lydecker, seems fine to
me." Max said.
"He is, just give him a day or two, you
may get a glimpse of him in his first twenty-four years of life." Jon said
as he shut his door.
"Talking about the latest man to throw in
with an X5?" Logan asked as he came up behind her and massaged her
shoulders.
"Yes, I just got a bit more perspective
on Robert, I like him more, I can see where he's coming from." Max said as
he turned around and kissed him.
"It's nice for us mission-minded males to
have understanding women." Logan said as he cupped her head in his hands
and kissed her back.
"I guess there not being a chair does
make a difference, let's explore it, I want to get a better feel of the body of
Eyes Only." Max said as she pushed him onto the bed.
"I also want to get a better feel of the
body of the woman that so artfully stole my heart." Logan said as he pulled
her onto the bed as she ripped off her shirt.
"I think we can arrange time for
both." Max said as she undid Logan's shirt and he unzipped her pants.
"I was hoping you'd say that, now where
were we?" Logan said smiling as he pulled her down and kissed her fiercely.
The two continued in a prolonged session of lovemaking that left them both
exhausted, they feel asleep in each other's arms I love yous were exchanged
before dozing off.
*********
"This situation has become unstable, the
X5 situation is to be dealt with now, deadly force is now authorized to deal
with the situation." Said Her, the chairperson of the committee.
"I have limited resources, my kids are
hurt, I have 114 Tac troopers dead, 69 wounded, I have less than a third of my
manpower, my latest Trackers were killed. I have no solid leads as to the
whereabouts of other X5's, I can't do anything about the situation."
Lydecker replied into his cell phone.
"Find new resources, I want those kids
either captured or dead, this whole situation has gone on far too long, finish
it now, or I'll find someone who will." She replied.
"That won't be necessary, I understand
the orders, they will be executed when targets are located, the X5's and
Trackers will surely relocate after this, I may be able to find a trail."
Lydecker said.
"See that you do, if you don't finish
this soon, I won't see any point in bringing Manticore to stage 3 if you can't
control the current crop." Were her words.
"I will resolve the situation, I already
have six of the twelve here at Manticore, the other six will be here or dead
soon enough." Lydecker replied.
"Good, I didn't want to have to bring
someone else in, just get it done, I want results, soon." She said.
"Yes ma'am, I will have concrete results
in two weeks, I guarantee you." Lydecker said as she hung up. Rule
number one about diplomacy, make sure you never were involved with the
chairperson of the committee, it will hurt later. Lydecker thought as he
remembered his brief romance with Her. I
don't want to do this, I want them home, not six feet under home. Walk the line,
she brings in someone who wastes every last one of them, and uses my current
kids on missions even they can't accomplish. If I follow orders, I'm no better
than those May 22nd bastards, what do I do? Lydecker thought as
he paced back and forth through his Manticore office. Those
kids need to come home, I guess I'll just need to bring them home faster than
was scheduled, but how? Lydecker questioned himself as he continued to pace.
The TX5 is coming up on schedule, but god knows if he will survive the process, but if he does, I get rid of the two biggest threats, and then we start breeding a legion of them, and no one will tell Manticore what to do.
*******
"Hey beautiful." Robert said as he
came up behind Andrea, she had been standing there, looking out the window into
the broken world.
"Hi yourself, where were you when I got
up? I seem to recall some promise about you staying there the whole time."
Andrea asked accusingly.
"I was getting breakfast going, I figured
you would sleep a bit more." Robert said as he gazed upon her, he drank in
her body, her long silky black hair, full lips, green eyes, small nose and trim
figure.
"It's good to see that you have some
hunter-gatherer potential." Andrea said as she stood up on her toes so she
could kiss him.
"You could just tell me to bend over you
know." Robert said as he bent over and pulled her into a long passionate
kiss.
"Too much effort." Andrea said as
she returned the kiss with equal intensity.
"I guess that rules out sex�"
Robert said as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close until she
slapped him.
"What is it with X5 woman and hitting
men?" Robert mused to himself as he stroked her dark hair.
"Someone needs to knock you back into
line, other guys sure as hell aren't going to." Andrea said as she lightly
stroked his back.
"Now let's go to breakfast before they
think we're banging the gong. I have no intention of looking like the kind of
man who takes to bed a woman who just suffered from two gunshot wounds, a knife
wound and major seizure." Robert said as Andrea pulled on one of his shirts
and a pair of boxers, the items were like an elephant skin on her, but it at
least covered her underwear for all the world to see.
"Let's, I want to enjoy this day for
once." Andrea said as her hands dropped away before they started walking
towards the door.
"I assure you, you will, and remember, if
Jon opens his mouth, stick a gun in it and pull the trigger." Robert said
as he let go.
"I'll try and keep that in mind."
Andrea said as she pulled him towards the door.
"Just remember, the only way we can screw
things up today is if we don't let things progress." Robert said as he
opened the door.
"I don't intend on letting things halt, I
want them to go fast, really fast." Andrea said as she kissed him on the
cheek.
"You're my kind of girl, now let's go get
harangued, and receive comments from the peanut gallery." Robert said as he
gave her one last kiss before they walked to what was a converted kitchen. Finally
have something worth living for, my friend, you've finally been paid off for
thirteen years of overtime. Robert thought as he mused to himself over what
he had just received.
