Max gunned the Ninja, and roared off onto the dark streets, her heart, Zack's heart, pounding. Her barcode had been in the newspaper again, and it said to meet at a telephone booth near her apartment. She raced towards it, and when she was within seeing distance, she stared to make sure it wasn't a trap. No, a figure just stood there alone, holding something.
Max drove over, and stopped by the side of the figure. The figure stood silently for a moment, then shook it's head. The cover that had been hiding it's face fell off, and Jace's face was revealed. "Jace" Max said in awe, and she glanced down at what Jace held in her arms. A sleeping infant. Jace gave a wry smile, "Max, meet Max." Max grinned, "So you did name her after me, I,m touched." Max reached over, and gently touched the infant's arm. "She's beautiful." Max said, thunderstruck, the infant had her mother's dark hair, and solemn, pretty features. "I came 'cause I wanted you to meet her and.." she trailed off, and Max peered at her, "What?" Jace sighed, "Because Manticore's after me and her."
They drove back to Max's apartment on the Ninja, Max driving carefully, not wanting to jar the sleeping baby. "So do you know about Tinga?" Jace asked, her voice full of pain. Max was surprised, "You knew about that?" Jace nodded, "Syl somehow got ahold of me, and told me," she paused, "Max, I think my Max is going to be like Tinga's son, have the talents we have, and I couldn't stand Manticore to take her away from me, I,d die." Max's face had turned hard as she remembered holding Tinga's cold, still body,"No one is going to get you or the baby, I,ll make sure this time." She cautiously turned the Ninja around, "Where are we going?" Jace asked puzzled. Max said grimly, "I,m going to take you to my friend's house, you'll be safer there, and maybe he can help you."
Max led Jace to Logan's door. "Wow, nice friend," Jace said, "The Penthouse?" Max nodded, "Yeah, that's we met, I was here robbing him." Jace laughed a little, and Max smiled, then they went inside. Logan look up from his computer, few people came to visit him, so he knew it was Max. "Hey Max, I think this smuggler thing isn't going to pan.." Logan trailed off, looking and seeing Jace standing beside Max's. "Uh, hi." he said, Max smiled, "Logan, you remember Jace?" Logan nodded, "It's always good to see another sibling." Jace glanced at Max, "Another one?" Max nodded, "He's met Zack, Tinga, Syl, and Krit." Jace nodded, and Max felt a pang as she realized that Jace didn't know that Zack was dead. She would have to tell her, but not now, later, after this was over. "Logan, Jace needs help," Max said, and nudged Jace, who revealed the sleeping baby Max. Logan's eyes widened and Max leaned over "She's afraid what happened to Tinga and Case will happen to her." Logan nodded, "Any sane person would be." "Well, she needs another place to hide, new ID." Max said, and Logan nodded again, "I'll get right on it." He turned away from them and to his computer. Max still looked grim, "I,m going to try and find the others, in case we need some help."
TBC...
