Max
and Logan stared at the screen, then Robert noticed what they were looking at,
it was his own file, they turned back to look at Robert, surprise registered on
their eyes, can�t say I blame them! Robert thought as Logan spoke.
�How
old are you?� Was Logan�s first question as he turned to face Robert, obviously
they�ve read my birth date, and wondered how I have barely aged days since my
time Manticore.
�I
am thirty-nine years old, why?� Robert responded to the question, Max was
still scanning the dense history of the Robert�s file, looking to see why
Robert survived the gunshot wounds, and hadn�t aged a day.
�Logan,
look at this, this �Trackers� project was a goal to create a soldier that
could absorb shitloads of punishment and kick ass, Robert seems to be a part of
this project.� Said Max as she answered the question that was forming on
Logan�s lips, determining who and what Robert was.
�Fascinating,
enhancements in speed, strength, incredible healing powers, and heightened
senses, to someone who was already living, how was this done to you?� Were
Logan�s words as he read the file on the alterations to Robert�s body,
beginning to wonder, what could Manticore have up its sleeve now?
�A
friend and I, were the only two successes of the project, we were tough, and our
healing genes remained stable after the first treatment. This allowed us to
survive the augmentation process, twenty people died before the scientists
succeeded with us, many of them, their healing genes could not maintain
stability, and often died after an augmentation treatment. Others, they just
couldn�t take the pain we felt as our insides were being torn up and
rewritten, and just killed themselves, unable to take the pressure. My healing
abilities are listed there, showing the exact limits of what I can take. My
strength level is well above X5 level, but I cannot match the speed or agility
of an X5, the scientists felt that too many alterations to my genetic code would
almost certainly kill me.� Robert replied listing off his time at Manticore in
point form.
Max
felt a kinship with Robert, he had not suffered a childhood of torture and
combat training, but Lydecker had screwed with him at Manticore, which made them
siblings in a sense.
�I
take it you decided what a scum-sucking asshole Lydecker was, and skipped town
with your friend?� Asked Max to Robert as she spotted a tattoo on his right
arm as he took off his jacket, a lone wolf was displayed, howling at the moon,
the tattoo was quite detailed, and seemed to add to the nature of him. For he
was truly a lone wolf from the aura he projected. Max also took stock of the two
shoulder holsters he wore beneath his jacket, each bearing an H&K USP
Tactical doesn�t seem to mind handling guns, this could be interesting, or
disturbing.
�I
saw what Lydecker did to you kids, my friend Jon and I decided to break you kids
out, we knew your skills, and we were ready to break you out. We also decided to
copy all Manticore data onto those disks and then break you out, but an alarm
was sounded, and six steel barriers were in our way." Robert paused and
sighed as he told the whole sordid affair.
"We
could have trashed them, but Lydecker would have brought every last soldier he
had and turned us into a pair of bullet-ridden corpses. Our healing abilities
were phenomenal, but we still couldn�t survive the amount of firepower
Lydecker could bring down on us, we escaped, and those first two years before
that pulse were hell. Moving from place to place by the week, wondering if
Lydecker has a base in the area, or does he have some new �Trackers� to hunt
us down. We managed to cross the border to Canada, laying low, then the pulse
hit, we learned about you X5 kids escaping, and we decided since we couldn�t
break you out, we might as well make sure Lydecker never got to any of you. We
knew he would surely focus on his �kids�, rather than a pair of lowly
�Trackers�, but you're the first X5 I've actually managed to meet, every
other X5 that I run across into thinks I'm working with Lydecker, and runs away.
Lydecker thinks Jon and I are dead though, a Tac team caught up to us, the
commander was an old friend from my time in the Marines, he falsified reports of
our deaths, Lydecker still thinks that your fellow X5�s that are foiling his
search teams when he comes looking for you.� Robert explained to Max as Logan
continued through the Manticore data, but the two kept an ear for Robert�s
words.
*Max
flashes back to her time at Manticore*
We
were in our beds, gunfire was heard, and we heard pounding then a slam as a
steel door was knocked down. Soldiers rushed in to cover the door, twelve of
them, armed with rifles, and Lydecker showed up, telling us to stay where we
are. As he spoke into the radio, we heard �sir those two have killed more
twenty guards, and they are packing some serious firepower, we can�t stop them
from escaping. By the time we organise a contingent to kill them, they�ll be
gone, orders?� Lydecker cursed and spoke into his radio.
�Let
them go, we�ll catch them soon enough, get more men to the X5 barracks, we
need to make sure those two don�t try another entrance to here, X5 security is
paramount!�
Soon
doctors were running in, administering tranquillisers to us, to make sure we
couldn�t move if we wanted to, Lydecker wasn�t taking any chances.
*End Flashback*
�I
remember that night, soldiers were coming in from everywhere, the barracks were
packed with them, then all I remember is some doctors shooting us up with
tranquillisers, but we were ready to escape that night.�
Max said as she snapped out of the haunting mental image from her time at
Manticore.
�I
hate to break up this Manticore reunion, but I am a bit curious about one
detail, why have you spent all this time searching for X5�s, you could have
stayed in Canada, Lydecker would never have found you.� Interrupted Logan as
he turned away from his computer, wondering what had driven me on this pursuit.
�It�s
my fucking fault that the X5 group is not free and clear, if my friend and I
spent more time planning around security barriers, we could have evacuated the
X5 group that night. I also feel
it�s a stroke of irony that I spend my time deflecting Lydecker�s searches
for X5�s, when I should be tracking them down. It�s my job to make sure that
the escaped X5�s that are stay free from Manticore, and I will destroy
Manticore, no one should be able to do what Lydecker does there. My friend and I
made a pact when we escaped Manticore, we agreed that we would stop Lydecker
from continuing Manticore projects, whatever the cost.� Robert replied to
Logan�s query as he noticed Max stealing a glance at Logan again those two
had better quit dancing in sexual tension one of these days and just screw.
�That
explains why you are in Seattle, but why are you here? You helped send those
Red�s packing, why are you here as of now? Isn�t your work complete?� Max
asks as Robert prepared to give the ugly truth about that alley fight and the
police drone that caught it.
�Because
a police drone caught our entire fight, I didn�t feel like bothering you about
it until I confirmed who you were, but if Lydecker is keeping his eyes open, we
could be dealing with a serious problem.� Robert answered as Max and Logan
gulped as they realised that Max was in danger again, because if Lydecker was
still watching combat feeds from the police drones, Seattle would soon be a
military state again, with Lydecker prowling for her.
�This
is just another layover for me in another city whilst I deal with Manticore
predations against an X5, working for Eyes Only holds no interest for me.�
Robert said laying out his objective, and noticed Logan stealing a look of his
own at Max.
�How
did you know I was Eyes Only, no one knows that, except myself, Max here, and my
personal therapist and assistant, or do you also recognise the scent of
cyber-journalists.� Snapped Logan as he realised that another man had pierced
his identity.
�Relax,
I could tell it was you because you have your Eyes Only display there, getting
ready for another broadcast?� Robert answered simply as Logan silently berated
himself for leaving such a valuable thing on when he had a stranger in his
apartment.
�Well,
seeing your good deeds committed and hearing about them, would you be adverse to
joining the Logan Cale brigade for the defence of widows small children, and
lost animals?� Asked Max as she landed her hand on Logan�s shoulder,
indicating that she was currently the legs of the operation to Robert.
�I
hardly see how joining your little impromptu unit could have any long-term
benefits, I have all the information I need about my past. I don�t care if
you�re Eyes Only, Lucifer, or the Easter Bunny, I just want to deal with any
attempts by Lydecker to get Max, then move ahead, too long in any area and I
make too many enemies. I�ve been nearly killed six times since I escaped
Manticore, bullets may not do that much damage, but a few emptied magazines into
my person can really tear my insides apart, it�s not a pleasant experience. I
won�t put you or Max at risk, I just want to do my job, and move on after a
few gun battles with Lydecker�s boys.� Robert said why should I get my
ass shot up for a bunch of people I�m never going to fucking meet, what do I
have to gain? Robert replied as Logan wheeled towards him, and made one last
shot at recruiting me with a speech.
�You
may know your past, but I can still help you, you want to protect X5�s, you
can go right ahead, but my information network can help you find and defend
them.� Logan offered, hoping he could convince Robert to join them.
�I
have all the information I need with my nose, I can detect an X5 from ten miles
away, I�ve ended at least two dozen searches for X5�s on my own, I don�t
need your help.� Robert said as cut off that line of reasoning as a window for
recruitment.
�I
can still help you, my information net can bring plenty of information, and
perhaps even find information on X5�s from the other side of the country, and
also, Seattle is a hotspot for Manticore activity, you would do well to hang
around here.� Logan said making a second attempt at recruiting Robert.
�Fuck,
I�ll do it, but if you can�t help me out with my mission, I am out of here,
your little self-righteous crusade is not going to hold much appeal to me.�
Robert replied in a voice of defeat as he realised that he had a good
opportunity using Seattle as launch pad for his work.
�Didn�t
you say something similar when you first joined up?� Logan said looking up at
Max as Robert stretched.
�That�s
because she sees a way of getting sex out of the deal to.� Robert muttered
under his breath, which drew Max�s attention as her enhanced hearing picked up
the comment, gave Robert a less than flattering look but didn�t say anything.
Interesting,
a man that is invulnerable to anything less than extreme heavy weapon�s fire,
has a fantastic amount of strength about him and canine-like senses has just
joined this little impromptu group. Max seems to trust him, which is a rare
thing, probably can understand what he went through when he found out he was
made into a living weapon, which is hardly a comforting experience. He does seem
a bit dark, but according to his files he was serving in Delta Force, hardly a
routine occupation, then getting altered by Manticore, that could have easily
brought him to this point. Max trusts him for now, which means I can trust him,
I put a lot of stock into what Max says, but that�s because I know she
dispenses zero bullshit, especially on me. Ah yes, Max, my dark angel, the woman
who was casing my place one night, then doing jobs and joining my little
crusade, if only I wasn�t stuck in this damn wheelchair, then maybe I could
make something of what we have, but no point in saddling her with a cripple.
Stop it! Focus on what just happened, Robert has joined, he is one of the most
dangerous men alive considering what he is capable of, but has a sense of duty
about him for protecting Max� family, which is fortunate for Max, considering
what he is capable of. Logan thought as he tapped at, hacking through security measures and
accessing hidden files, trying to ferret out a source of revenue for the police
that had no name.
*************
�Why
are you doing this, why is it your fault that I wasn�t out of there in
2007?� Max asked Robert as the two fellow Manticore experiments left Logan�s
computer room and filtered into his kitchen.
�I
did a shitty job of planning the breakout, every last one X5 should have been
free that night, instead of just doped up in bed whilst you listened to gunfire
being exchanged.� Robert answered as he ran a hand through his hair and leaned
against a counter.
�You�ve
done good things since we escaped, we can take care of ourselves, why do you
need to keep doing this?� Max asked as she put a hand on Robert�s arm.
�You
can�t take care of yourselves, Lydecker uses your own brothers and sisters to
hunt you down, I have had to fend off many attempts to capture the X5�s, you
don�t know how deep the interest in X5 is, I do.� Robert responded as his
arms tightened as he leaned back.
�I know more than you would suspect, I know about the Red Series are out for
my DNA, and that the Chinese are dying to get their hands on me, plus Lydecker
and his boys are always after me.� Max shot back, showing off her knowledge of
parties interested in her cocktail genetic code.
�It
seems you aware of the situation, big question is, why are you still in Seattle,
is it for wheels over there, or are you just ignorant of what�s happening
around here.� Robert remarked as he caught Max�s eyes flash up, and a hint
of rage entered them.
�Why
I�m here is because Logan is giving me information about my past
and helping me find my siblings, I have friends here and a life, I�m not going
to let anyone take that away from me.� Max replied through a hateful tone,
bothered that Robert would presume to lecture her on how to live her life.
�Whoa,
take it easy there, I just wanted to know your exact reason, because I need to
know if you ever plan to leave Seattle.� Robert said holding a hand up, and
detected a fresh release of pheromones from Max as he told her to take it easy. She
wants wheels alright, that much I can tell, I can also tell that he wants her
too, but those two just need a trigger, otherwise it will blow up in their
faces, which would suck. Robert thought as he differentiated the scent Max
released, and analysed her feelings.
�Not
in this lifetime, I�m staying here, despite the risks.� Max answered, I�m
sure as hell not leaving, after all things should get interesting with Robert
around to kick ass and take names of anyone who tries anything.
�With
that settled, then perhaps we should discuss which X5�s you have run into over
the years, and what you know about recent developments in Seattle.� Robert
asked, wondering what a fellow Manticore project had done during their years on
the outside.
�I
have met two of my siblings, one of which is now at Manticore because she had to
go back, a weird aging disease struck her, and she could only find help at
Manticore. The brother that I met is the self-appointed leader of my brothers
and sisters, and tries to keep us out of trouble, but I�m not sure what
happened to him either.� Max answered, remembering how Brin had chosen to go
back to Manticore, and how that mysterious helicopter crash left her guessing
about what happened to Zack.
�Well
that sucks.� Robert commented and cursed himself for not being in Seattle when
the events had played out Alex and the boys at the lab in Vancouver could
have probably fixed her sister up, and I would have kicked the ass of those
Manticore soldiers, but at least I�m here now. Robert thought as he
slammed a fist down on the kitchen counter, but reeled in his strength to
prevent the blow from shattering the counter.
�I
take it you will blame yourself for not being there to stop it from
happening?� Max said as she nodded to Robert�s fist as he rubbed it.
�No
point in crying over spilt blood and faulty genes, let�s just deal with
whatever your boyfriend drums up for us.� Robert answered, and Max threw him
another look.
�He�s
not my boyfriend, why does everyone keep thinking that?� Max replied as she
ran a hand through the dark curls of her hair and pulled free an annoying chunk.
�Perhaps
because you reek of interest in Logan, don�t hide it, the nose knows all.�
Robert reported as he tapped his nose and grinned as Max sighed.
�What
we have is none of your business, or are you always this nosy about the romances
of the X5 series?� Max grunted at Robert as she opened Logan�s fridge and
took out a bottle of water.
�Interesting
choice of words considering you�re working hard to convince me you have a
business relationship with Logan.� Robert replied smirking as Max drank some
of the water.
�Pipe
down, you may be a tower of pure adrenaline but one knee to the happy sack and
you�re down like the rest of them.� Max shot back as she raised her knee in
a miming of striking Robert in the testicles.
�Fair
enough!� Robert said throwing his hands up in defeat and Max smiled,
remembering how for some reason, every man considered that part of their person
more valuable than life itself.
*************
�You
understand the risks involved?� Lydecker asked the huge man who was standing
before him.
�I
do, let me become what you have proposed, let me be the most powerful being
alive.� The man replied as he shifted uncomfortably.
�I
can�t guarantee that you will live, or these modifications will work, we�ve
never done so many alterations to a specimen before, we�re not sure what may
result.� Lydecker said, cautioning the applicant for Manticore�s most
ambitious genetics program yet.
�Just
do it, I will do what you ask of me after these changes are complete granted I
am given at least some liberties.� The man snapped irritably.
�Fine,
these two men will conduct you to the labs where our scientists are at work,
this process will take time, but the results should be well worth it.�
Lydecker answered as he nodded for the two guards in the room with them to
conduct the large man to the new genetics facility.
�Are
you sure this is such a wise idea, what happens if he turns against us like
T-6?� Sandoval asked Lydecker as the man left the room, wondering what would
happen if the man rebelled like the sixth group Trackers subjects had and killed
a great deal of the soldiers stationed at Manticore, whilst trying to rescue the
X5's.
�He
won�t, because I ordered the scientists to insert a faulty gene into his
system that his own healing genes will be blind too, if he does not report in
once a month for a treatment, he will die.� Lydecker responded as he read the
lab reports for the proposal on the next generation of Manticore super soldiers.
�A
worthy precaution, and with the increased security we should be able to deal
with any attempts by this man to disrupt the facility, is that all?� Sandoval
noted as he read the lab reports that Lydecker handed him.
�For
now yes, but also get me the latest set of data feeds from police drones across
the country, I want to see if any of my kids have made the mistake of revealing
themselves as of late.� Lydecker replied as Sandoval folded up the report and
put it back down on Lydecker�s desk.
End
Part Two
