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I re-entered the projection room after making my way up several dozen flights of stairs. I looked down on the conference. "What do you mean he got away? He's in a wheel chair for God's sakes." said Darius unbelieving. I activated the projector to distract the guards and ran around to a side entrance. "Check it out." ordered Darius. I decided a little game of cat and mouse was in order and led two of his men into a hallway. The two terrorist decided to out flank me and split up. I waited until they were facing me from opposite sides, as they pulled the triggers on their gun's I did a flip. When I landed they had both finished killing one another. "Now I have to get Jude" I thought. I circled to a unguarded side entrance of the conference room and entered. I saw Darius rushing to the stage. He must have heard the gun fire. "They're making their move. Let's get out of here. Grab a hostage." ordered Darius. At that moment Lydecker decides to be a hero and draws out his gun. He get's up and point's it at the back of Darius's head. He seemed ready to open fire but a terrorist from behind knocked Lydecker unconscious. Darius turned to look briefly at Lydecker before moving towards Jude. "Come with me okay." said Darius to Jude as he took him in his arms. Another terrorist walks over to Lydecker's still form and is poised to fire. The whole thing was surreal. I couldn't believe that someone was finally going to kill Lydecker. He had to die. I was ready to leave to save Jude when something came over me. I lost control of my body and rushed up to the terrorist with the gun trained on Lydecker. I grabbed his neck from behind, snapped it killing him instantly and then I tossed the body into another two knocking one unconscious. With a kick I knocked the gun out of the remaining terrorist hand's and followed up with another one knocking him unconscious as well. I couldn't believe what I was doing. I was..was saving Lydecker. Whatever was happening to me I could figure out later. There was still Jude to save. Darius upon witnessing his guard's being disabled ran to the rear of the screen with Jude. I followed them until I heard a gun being cocked. I dodged out of the way and ran right up behind Darius. I punched him until he fell on the ground. He got back on his feet so I taped him on the shoulder. "Looking for me?" I said as I ran around dodging his gunfire. He was getting boring and I feared that the military would soon storm the place. I kick the gun away from Darius, blocked his feeble attempt at a punch, grabbed his arm and pinned it to his back before shoving his head through glass. I turned away from the unconscious terrorist leader and went over to a frightened Jude. Jude stood up looking at the screen as an image of Doctor Tanaka was playing in the background. "You Okay?...Jude." I asked the boy. "What's going to happen to me now?" he asked. "It's okay. You don't have to be brave anymore. Let it all out. It's all right." I said holding him. I gave Jude as much time as I could before we went down to get Logan. We decided that it would be best if I took Jude and got him out of a side entrance to the building and he would meet up with Bling and get the car and wait for us. Logan said he had a friend who might be able to get us through the police check points. We all made it down safely as the military began to storm the building. I got Jude to Logan's car. Logan's detective friend helped tuck Jude into the back of the car. "You better get the kid outta here." said detective Sung. "Thank's for sticking your neck out on this Matt." said Logan. "This way at least he won't end up in an orphanage." said the detective. "Or in Lydecker's hand," said Logan. "Take care of my boy." I said to Logan. "He'll be okay." Logan promised. "You folk's are free to go" said the detective as he waved them through the check point.
"Max!" I heard screamed at me as I was watched Logan's Aztec driving away with Jude. I turned and saw Original Cindy, Herbal and Sketchy. "You okay sugar?" asked Original Cindy. "I just kept my head down and let the men fight it out. It's all good." I told her. "Yeah, it's all good" said Original Cindy. "All the time" said SKetchy. "All the time." said Herbal. Boy were they acting weird I wonder what I missed. I asked them if they had seen Kendra. They said that she had made it out safely before the shooting started and they loaded her on to a truck with the other hostages. I guess that meant they were taking her to a hospital. I went back and asked the Matt if he knew where they had taken the hostages. He told me that they all went to General. I thanked him and told Cindy and the others. "Let's spring her" said Sketchy. "From what you idiot?" asked Cindy. "Come on, let's go get Kendra so I can go home." I said. "Home girl's probably worried to death about you." said Cindy. "Wanna ride on my bike?" offered Sketchy. "Not in your lifetime mon." said Herbal laughing. I hopped on behind Cindy's bike and where took off to get Kendra. We caught Kendra as see was leaving the hospital. She told us the military guy's were asking her all sort of questions about the terrorists and would let her go until now. "Mi...Lady." said SKetchy offering his hand to Kendra. Kendra got on Herbal's bike instead. "What can I say mon. It's karma." said Herbal. "Hey I was just trying to be a gentleman." said Sketchy. "Yeah sure." said everyone else in unison. "Hey guy's aren't we supposed to be delivering packages?" asked Sketchy all of a sudden. Original Cindy and Herbal got out their bags and tossed it at him. "Thanks' for volunteering!" I said smiling as we a rode off. "Guy's...guy's... I can't possibly deliver all these." said Sketchy as we got further away. "Bye.. Sketchy." said Kendra smiling. "It's all good all the time!..." said Herbal laughing.
The next day I went over to Logan's. "Hey!". I said. "Hey, yourself. Ordering myself a new wheel chair. Looking for the one with jet thrusters." said Logan. I laugh. "Thanks for bailing the gal's out of there, myself included." I said. "Right back at you. Taking a header off that building was above and beyond the call." said Logan. "Looking out for my meal ticket. How many guy's can cook and save the world" I asked jokingly. "So...that was Lydecker?" asked Logan. "Yep!, my own private anti-christ. Up close and personal." I said to him. "Shorter than I imagined. Do you have any idea why he was there?" Logan asked. "The same as me. Looking for answers. He said all of us, his children were flawed." I told Logan. "Seizures?" asked Logan. "I got the sense he was talking about something even worse......I saved his life." I said confused. "And here I thought I was special" said Logan. "He was about to take a bullet in the head. All I had to do was stand there and do nothing and I could cross off Donald Lydecker off my list of things to worry about." I said unsure. "You didn't exploit tactical advantage over your enemy? He would be so disappointed if he knew." said Logan jokingly. What did they talk about and why does that line sound so familiar?....Lydecker I remembered. "How sick is that? but for some reason I couldn't let it happened. I've no idea why?" I said truly puzzled. "Life good. Murder Bad?" offered Logan. "I'm not that high minded. Lydecker's the one guy who knows what's going on in this freak shell body of mine. Whether or not this barcode has an expiration date? I guess I couldn't let him die with that secret" I said as the only plausible excuse I could come up with. "Whatever you have to tell yourself. Fact is you saved the man's life." said Logan. "Bad man." I said back at him. "Still a good thing." Logan said smiling. "I'm not so sure, but do you know what really bombs my ass out? I had a chance to swipe some towels and I totally spaced it." I told him trying to move away from the subject of Lydeckeruntil I could sort it out later. "Next time." said Logan. "Yeah, next time." I promised.
The morning started out fine. Original Cindy and I had just grabbed breakfast and headed into Jam Pony. We were coming down the ramp and could hear Sketchy moaning about how he was on a break. "Shut up. Put this on." ordered Normal as he held out a jacket to Sketchy. "What is it?" asked Sketchy. I wanted to know what it was too. "It's the shape of things to come my friend. This is the prototype for the new... Jam Pony safety jerkin which each of you will soon be required to wear at all times." declared Normal beaming with pride as he slipped the jerkin on poor Sketchy. "Jam pony-- ride with pride." quoted Original Cindy from the back of the jerkin. I think not. "That's right. I designed it myself." said Normal proudly. "I can tell." I said trying not to laugh. "Ah... It will make our riders more visible to other vehicles and lend a more uniform appearance to the generally scruffy look of you bums." stated Normal as Sketchy spun around. "Even though people are hungry out there they will throw food at us if we wear something this bogus." said Sketchy. Had to agree with the man. I know I would throw something if I had to wear it. "You'll wear it and you'll like it. You can also say good-bye to the graffiti in this place and hello to a nice fresh coat of institutional beige, as well as digital locators so I can keep tabs on you dead beats at all times." warned Normal a he eyed us all and our lockers. "Where's the money come from to pay for this fascist wet dream of yours?" I asked him before he got any more dellusional. "From our soon to be new owner Mr. Germook Sivapatha Sundaram who's on his way from Bangalor India as we speak." informed Normal as he moved back behind his counter. "He's buying this place?" asked Original Cindy amazed that anyone would buy this dump. Wait if this guy was tossing around money for stuff to make this place better we needed a few things too I thought. "Maybe you should start with fixing the can in the ladies room." I suggested to him. "Well in due course. First order of business, I want all unauthorized signage graffito and the like, removed from your lockers. I don't want Mr. Sivapatha Sundaram walking in here and finding a great big, fat mess." ordered Normal as he continued to wipe his counter.
I had just finished work and headed home. I took my bike through the back entrance and up the service elevator. "Kendra?...." I called out coming in with my motorcycle. Maybe she went out. I found a note from her saying "Mr. Multiples is back in town." lucky Kendra I thought. I put my bike to the side and headed for my room and it was then that I noticed a broken window. There was glass all over the floor. I heard a noise toward my back and spun on the balls of my feet and was about to kick when I saw it was Zack. "Oh, god. Zack?" I said slowly lowering my foot from his face. He had been injured. "Lydecker... I tried to stop him... but he got Bryn." said Zack as he slumped forward to the carpet. I grabbed him to cushion his fall. What the hell was going on? did he say Bryn? I checked his pulse and it was still steady and his breathing was fine. He looked like something hit him, a big something to bring Zack down. I checked to see if any of his wounds required immediate attention but all he seemed to have was a few broken bones and several cuts. I took care of the cuts with a disinfectant and bandages. Thank goodness they taught something useful in Manticore like first aid. If Zack had anything more complicated it would require a hospital. Logan might have some connections to help Zack. I needed to know what happened and soon if it involved Bryn. Logan said he would have Bling come down and help get Zack over to his place. He promised to do all he could for Zack.
The next morning at Logan's apartment we all waited to see if Zack was going to wake up. He had been unconscious for awhile. Zack was Lying on a table bandaged as Bling hovered above him. "Let's have a look. I need to change your bandage." said Bling as Zack suddenly awoke and grabbed Bling's hand. "You need to back off." warned Zack. "It's okay. He's a friend." I told him as he slowly let go of Bling's hand. "Another friend?" asked Zack as Logan came in. Logan looked up from his laptop. "That's right." said Logan smiling. It's amazing how quickly tension can build up when Zack was in the room I thought. "Why did you bring me here, Max? I came to you for help." asked Zack apprehensively. "And that's what you're getting. Now, tell us what happened to Bryn. You said Lydecker had her. He knows all about who we are." I told him as he kept looking back and forth between me and Logan. "I want to help you." offered Logan looking at Zack. "You can trust him. Tell us what happened." I asked Zack. "She got careless. She got caught. End of story." said Zack simply. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked him. "She's gone, Max." stated Zack as if Bryn weren't one of us anymore. "So, we're just going to let Lydecker have her?" I asked him. I shoulda known Zack would be following the manual and cut losses. "You want us to go after her and give him a shot at a hat trick?" asked Zack mystified by my reaction. "We can't just do nothing." I screamed at him. "We're not going to breach op-sec for some half-assed rescue attempt. You need to accept what happened and move on. Is that clear?" Zack asked/ordered me. "You're not my C.O., Zack. You can worry about op- sec for the both of us but I'm going to do whatever it takes to get her back." I reminded him as Logan was busy on his laptop. "Yeah? How? She's probably halfway to Manticore by now." guessed Zack asking me. "I don't think so." said Logan looking up from his laptop as his fingers glided across the keys. "Stay out of this." warned Zack as he turned to look at Logan. "In caseyou haven't caught on this girl is going to do what she's going to do no matter what you or anyone else says. So, you've got two choices-- back off or pitch in." informed Logan staring back at him. I was surprised Logan knew me so well. "What he said." I told Zack as he glared at both of us. "Now, the way I figure it you don't just put a genetically-enhanced killing machine on the next bus to Manticore and since I'm not finding any record of military convoys leaving the city, or any unusual air traffic I'm thinking there's a chance she's probably being held somewhere here in Seattle... maybe at Lydecker's forward base of operations." suggested Logan as he was busy on his laptop. "Yeah? Well, where's that?" asked Zack sarcastically. "Give me a minute." said Logan as he looked at Zack. Logan eventually headed into his study.
It took Logan more than a minute to find out the location of Lydecker's base. Zack needed the rest after the hit and run job his body took. Logan called us both in to his study since he was getting closer to accessing the information we needed. Zack put on his shirt and tossed on his leather jacket and we gathered around Logan to offer any help we could. "Our friend Lydecker's a first-rate spook. Whatever operation he's got going here he's covering it up pretty good." said Logan admiringly working on the computer. "Did you look in the yellow pages under "Black helicopter operations"? " suggested Zack sarcastically standing to the side. "Oh, another Manticore wit." fired Logan back at him. "Okay, so we can't find his crew. Maybe we can find his crib or where he hangs. Maybe he's part of a bowling league or something." I suggested to Logan trying to break up their verbal sparing match. "Here are his D.O.D. records. "Donald Michael Lydecker" born 1968. Enlisted in the army right out of high school. Married his hometown sweetheart." read Logan from the screen. I guess love is blind. "Oh, how touching." I said. "Accepted to O.C.S. "Graduated top of his class. "Assigned to third ranger battalion. "Saw action in Panama, Kuwait, Somalia... "Made captain. "Assigned to delta force. Legion of merit, purple heart..." continued Logan reading off Lydecker's accomplishment's. "Yeah, yeah, we get the point." I said not wanting to recount all of Lydecker's life. "Looks like he was on the fast track until '95. Wife was murdered. Killer was never found...." said Logan. "Probably did it himself." suggested Zack. "His behavior became erratic. Half a dozen disciplinary infractions: "Insubordination, disorderly conduct... D.U.I." Bought himself a dishonorable discharge and last but not least, an ADAP admissions form from 1996." said Logan. "Adap"? I asked. "Alcohol and drug abuse program-- rehab for military personnel." explained Logan. If you ask me he was unstable and should've gotten a lobotomy, would've made life happier for all those concerned. "Program must've turned things around for him if he was assigned to head up Manticore. He's probably still working it." I said as I memorized the address. "As in, "My name is Don. I'm an alcoholic"?" joked Logan. "Place to start. You coming?" I asked Zack who was still looking at Logan. "And our objective is what...all the black coffee we can drink?" asked Zack. "Find the man and he'll lead us to our objective. Or did you sleep through recon 101?" I reminded him. Zack turned and left the room and followed. "Not withstanding what I told G.I. Joe here you do realize. That you are going after a man who has spent the last ten years trying to hunt you down." warned Logan as I turned back to look at him. He's cute when he worry's. "I spent the last ten looking for him, Bryn and the others." I reminded him. "Just make sure it's not what get you killed." he suggested. Sound advice I'll take it I thought as I smiled at him and turned to follow Zack.
We arrived as the AA meeting was starting up. Lydecker had parked his car at the front of the building. Zack said we should maintain a distance and monitor Lydecker to see if he would lead us to Bryn. All very by the book but I had to know what Lydecker was doing so I ditched Zack and took a quick peek at the meeting he was attending. I left my bike hidden just a few meters away just in case I had to make a quick getaway. I looked from a side window to see Lydecker standing at the podium speaking. God! help them all I thought. "I'm a alcoholic and my name is Don." said Lydecker looking at the others. "Hi Don." responded the audience in unison. "I'm ..a new in town. I have some business here and I've been coming to this meeting for the last couple of weeks. I've listened to a few of you tell your stories and tonight I'd like to take my turn. Drinking dammed near destroyed my life. I woke up one morning...took a look around...ha.. I was lying on the floor. I decided not to touch another drop, been sober ever since. I hear a lot of you talk about taking one day at a time as far as I'm concerned thats a cop out. You make a decision and you take charge of your life. You don't need a higher power to help you, you don't need a sponsor. What you need is strength of mind, will power and character. Alcoholism is not a disease it's a failing. You've turned it into a church you worship the altar of self pity. I've come to these rooms for one reason. To remember what I don't want to become: helpless, impudent and weak. Thank you. As you were." berated Lydecker as he finished. The man is evil I thought as I turned and left. He can't even be civil to those poor people who need help I thought moving to hide in the dense foliage. Time was running out for Bryn, if I didn't do something soon she may be too far out of reach even for us. That was then that I decided to snatch Lydecker. It was a spur of the moment thing. Lydecker was leaving the meeting and was at his car about to get in. I came up behind him and choked him unconcious, giving a swift boot in the rear to get him in his vehicle. I took his keys as Zack came up on his bike. "What the hell are you doing?" asked Zack. "Follow me." I told him getting into Lydecker's ride. I stopped and called Logan to ask him to send someone to pike up my bike and to let him know what was going on. Logan suggested taking Lydecker to a abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. I thanked him as Zack waited, keeping an eye on Lydecker in the car. I told Zack the location of the warehouse and he grunted.
We arrived at the warehouse and Zack got a rope, checked it's integrity and tied up Lydecker. We placed Lydecker nearby the black MPC in we had to make a fast getaway. Zack seemed upset or something and wanted to talk out of ear shot of Lydecker so we moved several dozen feet from Lydecker. "Max that wasn't the plan. That wasn't the plan." said a agitated Zack. "I saw an opportunity and I took it." I told him simply as I noticed Lydecker beginning to stir. It seemed like it was time to begin the interrogation, so I headed back to Lydecker and Zack followed along. "Huh?...What?" said a confused Lydecker. "A group of men in black MPC's kidnapped a girl yesterday on Waverley avenue. Your men. I wanna know where they took her?" I screamed the question at him. "You must have me confused with some.." claimed Lydecker. "Tell us where she is Lydecker or you're going to have a very long day." threatened Zack. "Just a business man.." said Lydecker in a unassuming voice. "Where is Bryn?" demanded Zack. "Bryn?... You're one of them. One of mine. X5. Nobody else would know the names you kids called each other." realized Lydecker dropping the facade of innocence. "Where is she?!" I yelled at him. "I don't have her." laughed Lydecker. "You're still so angry. You haven't changed much have you, Zack?" said Lydecker addressing Zack. "We'll play "pin the name on the bar code" later. Answer the question." I told him as Zack and I exchanged looks. "And who might you be? Jondy, maybe? Tinga? Max? Listen up. I don't want to see Bryn fall into enemy hands any more than you do." asked Lydecker trying to switch role from prisoner to interrogator. I wondered if he knew who I was, did he remember me? There was no time for this. I had to concentrate on getting Bryn back. "You are the enemy." screamed Zack. "I told you, Zack I don't have her." stated Lydecker. "Stop lying." yelled Zack getting more frustrated. "You put your prisoner in a threatening environment and then you use threats and verbal abuse to try and weaken him psychologically." instructed Lydecker as if we were still both at Manticore. "Shut up!" I told him. I didn't need to be reminded of his lessons. "And eventually, you'll employ non-verbal techniques, including torture." continued Lydecker. "I said shut up!" screaming at him. "Why don't we just cut to the chase and..." said Lydecker as he grunted. I could hear his bone cracks as he continued to grunt and pant from breaking one of his own fingers. He was insane. "One down, nine to go. What do I have to do to have you accept that I'm telling you the truth? I don't have her." said Lydecker. He might be telling the truth and Bryn was running short on time. "Then who does?" I asked. "Any number of foreign governments would love to get there hands on Manticore technology." said Lydecker. "Your saying someone kidnapped her so they can sell her to the highest bidder." I asked shocked at the prospect. I knew that it was a possibility but I hadn't really believed. "Is that so surprising? Each one of you's is worth millions." said Lydecker amused at our ignorance. "Why should we believe you?" asked Zack. "A weapon system like Bryn doesn't come up for sale everyday. Let me contact my people we can find out who's brokering the deal. Think about it." asked Lydecker as Zack and I began to move away from him.
"What do you think?" I asked Zack's opinion. "We should kill him right now and take the win." said Zack all too happy to get rid of Lydecker in exchange for Bryn's life. "I think he's telling the truth. He doesn't have her." I said to Zack. "You're not seriously buying into that crap?" asked Zack with disbelief in his voice. "It's plausible. We should check it out. Logan has contacts with the military. Maybe he can shake something loose." I suggested. "Go, I'll stay here and work on Lydecker." agreed Zack as he began to eye Lydecker. Zack had been to quick and his hatred for Lydecker would cloud his judgment. "I think something tragic might happen while I'm gone. You should take point with Logan." I suggested. Zack agreed and left on his motorcycle which left me time to chat with dear old dad.
I passed time waiting for Zack by chatting. "Can I have some water please?" asked Lydecker. "Fresh out. I'd spit on you but it would be a waste of good saliva." I told him. "I recognize the voice now. Your the journalist from the genetics conference. Racheal Glasser. How servere are they? The sizeures I mean." asked Lydecker. It's amazing how easily he can feign concern for my health when all he did was torture us all. "Bad sometimes." I admitted. "We have treatments now you know." he said smooothly. Next he will want to sell me a used car I thought. "Do you make house calls or should I go to Manticore for my meds?" I said sarcastically. "Would it be as bad as all of that?" Lydecker asked as if I had to truly wonder about it. No, I love nearly drowning and being you lab monkey everyday of my life I thought. "How could you even ask me that? You tortured us, beat us down." I told him to his face. "You were in training to become a soilder." he said explaining to me. I must have missed the memo on torture and training. "We were children." I screamed at him hoping he would wake up and take responsibility for his actions. "And you are remembering it through a childs eyes." Lydecker said defending his actions. "I remember ava dead on the floor. Shot by the gun in your hand." I reminded him. "You'll never know how much it pained me to have to do that." Said Lydecker. "Spare me." I said to him. "It was the best of you that ran away that night." he said in a nostalgic voice. I told him we ewere interested in starting a rock band and who know if we made it big we could've played Manticore. "Do you want to spend your life running?" asked Lydecker. "What I do." I said. "Well, you don't have to, you know. You can always come home." offered Lydecker. "Get it through your head..I'd rather die than go back there." I told him. Someone was coming. I turned a little and saw Zack. Maybe he had good news from Logan.
"Catching up on old times? He's right. She's being held at Fort Xavier." said Zack about Bryn. It figures she would be held at a base. "That's Jake Sanders' command. I can't believe it. We served together." piped Lydecker amazed at his comrade's betrayal. "Well, we'll be sure to send him your regards." I told Lydecker. "Here's a layout of the base." said Zack opening the map. It seemed to be a standard base with electrical fences and heavily armed guards most likely. The base brig was deep inside. "We'll move out when it gets dark." I said to Zack slowly putting the map away. "You'll never get out of there alive. Listen to me. I know Sanders. I can get on the base. I can call an attack team." offered Lydecker trying to worm his way out. Did he think I was stupid but still from what I saw on the layout our chances were pretty thin without his help. "And then what? Take her back to Manticore?" said Zack. "I would give my life... rather than to see Manticore technology end up in the hands of the enemy." said Lydecker. Now, that was something I could believe. "You may have a chance.. you're coming with us." I sadi to Lydecker. Who knows maybe he'll get shot. "What?" said Zack in disbelief. "With him along, we can waltz right through the front doors." I explained to Zack. "He'll double-cross us in a heartbeat." warned Zack. "He may want to, but he can't. We're the only hope he has to get Bryn away from Sanders. Isn't that right, Donald?" I asked him sweetly as I took off his blindfold. He might as well see since he already knew who and what we loked like anyway. "He'll know what we look like." cautioned Zack. "We'll worry about that when we get Bryn back." I said to Zack. "For the record I don't like this." said Zack. "Noted. One wrong move... you're an organ donor." I warned Lydecker who seemed all to happy about our reunion.
We had Lydecker Drive us up to sentry check point at Fort Xavier. It would look better that way and we could keep an eye on him. "Keep it simple." I warned Lydecker as the sentry approarched us. "Base perimeter has been sealed until furt her notice." said the sentry as he looked us over. "I'm here to see Major Sanders." said Lydecker showing off his badge. "I'll have to ask you to turn your vehicle around." ordered the sentry readying his weapon. "Just get on the horn, corporal and tell him Don Lydecker is here to see him." said Lydecker with a tone of familiarity in his voice. The sentry paused and decided best not to tick off someone who might be a friend of the Major's. "I'll be right back. Sir. The Major's in the mess hall. Sir, he's asked that you join him there." said the sentry changing his tone to a more civil one. "Good job, corporal." said Lydecker as the gate lifted. We drove pass the check point and on to the base. The whole place seemed to be well guarded. I spotted several men hidden nearby the bushes nearby the road. Probably there to give advance warning if the sentry post was taken out. We drove up to the building marked Mess Hall. I had thought never to step foot in one of these places again if I could. The whole place felt like Manticore.
We entered the mess hall and were confronted immediately with several armed guards. They sure are paranoid I thought. Lydecker looked around non-chalantly for his friend as Zack and I kept watch of both him and our armed escorts. A man dressed in fatigues stood up from the table as we approached the center of the room. "Holy crap on tuesday's toast.. Don Lydecker. How the hell are you?" said the man bosieterously wearing Major pips on his collar's. He must be the main man I thought as Lydecker got a slap hug. "Good to see you, Jake. It's been too long." said Lydecker reciprocating the gesture. "How's the spook business?" asked Sanders smiling. "Listen, is there someplace we can go to talk ?" asked Lydecker. "Something wrong with right here?" said Sanders out loud while making a sweeping gesture over the room. The soilders looked up from their meals. "You might think so when I tell you what I have to say." said Lydecker. "Shoot." said Sanders. "You've got one of my kids, Jake." stated Lydecker. "I don't know what you're talking about." denied Sanders as he stared directly at Lydecker. The men in the room started to get up. "You're planning on selling her to the P.R.C. and it kind of worries me." said Lydecker matter of factly. "Pat them down. I thought you might have a problem with this. I know how touchy you are about your kids." said Sanders as our escorts leveled their weapons on us. We decided not to resist. We were out numbered and they were heavily armed. "You've got it all wrong, Jake. I'm not here to make trouble I want in." said Lydecker smoothly. That bastard, I knew he was going to betray us. Just didn't think it would be this soon. Zack looked ready to pounce on Lydecker. I gave him a non verbal signal to stop and wait. "You never fail to surprise me, Deck." said Sanders grinning from ear to ear. "Times are tough. We all have to plan for our retirement." said Lydecker smiling back at Sanders. "The problem is, I already got the merchandise. Just cannot see your leverage here Deck?" said Sanders. "These kids wouldn't exsist without me. The two I brought with me to sweet'n the pot." said Lydecker as he turned to face us. The nearby soilders all got up and surrounded us. "Really?" asked Sanders. Lydecker responds yes by nodding his head.
The guards took us down to their brig after searching us for weapons and binding our hands. Lydecker was chumming it up with his pal Sanders as we were walking past several empty cells. "Good timing, you showing up with those two now." said Sanders happily as they opened up nearby cells. The guard's put Zack in a seperate cell. "How do you mean?" asked Lydecker. I looked around my cell to see what I could use for an escape later. I noticed a figure in the next cell, lying there huddled and shaking. "Well, maybe you should see for yourself." said Sanders as he motioned toward the same figure I was looking at. Could it be? ...I thought. If it was Bryn she was breathing weakly. "Bryn? Bryn, it's me, Max." I said. "Max? Is it really you?" asked Bryn in a weakend voice. "We're here, baby sister." reassured Zack as Bryn began to shiver. "Zack... you came for me." said Bryn amazed. I guess she knew Zack better than I did. The more closely I looked at her the more she didn't look like Bryn. Was Bryn's hair white I thought looking more carefully. I could see that she was fighting for every breath. "What's wrong with her?" I demanded to know from Lydecker. If anyone would know i would be him. Lydecker turned away from studying Bryn and looked at me. "It's a form of progeria similar to Werner's syndrome. It's a spontaneous, rapid mutation of the genome, expresses in the form of highly accelerated aging. Three of the x5 group developed it. She's the fourth. As far as I know. We're going to need to ice her down to bring down her core temperature slow down her metabolic rate." explained Lydecker as he began to instruct Sanders and his men on how to help Bryn. So this is what happens if the seizures get out of control I wondered. "She going to last long enough for me to lay her off to my clients?" asked Sanders. "Two or three days, maybe." guessed Lydecker. "All I really need is to have her breathing when the taillights disappear in the morning. But, Deck, they're not going to want to pay much for damaged goods." worried Sanders. "Dead or alive... her genetic code is worth millions. And besides, we have the other two to sell. They're the top of the x5 group." reassured Lydecker. "Do you know something, Don? I've always wondered what drove you to hunt us down all these years. I thought maybe you were afraid of your dumbass fed job or was it waxes of patriotism or professional pride because you felt like a chump for losing is in the first place. But now I know, you are just a bottom feeding pimp, peddling flesh for the Benjamins." I said to him losing the last ounce of respect I had for the man. "It's just a little more complicated than that. Permission address your men." asked Lydecker as he turned away. "Go right ahead." aid Sanders. "Alright listen up. Under no circumstances is anyone to interact with the prisoners. Handling them require special training. which you don't have Do not open their cells and under no circumstances allow yourself within arms length of them. Understood?" instructed Lydecker. "Same old Deck." said Sanders. I agree it's the same old Lydecker I thought. "Next time we do this. We're gonna have to have more men in here." said Lydecker as he and Sanders started to walk back out of the brig. "Told you he was going to double cross us." said Zack. "Never fails to disappoint does he? I've got an itch, any you fellow wanna scratch my back." I asked trying to get one of the guards to get closer to the cell. "Yeah, right!" said one of the guard's. I began to gnaw at the ties. "Hey, cut it out!" shouted the guard. "Oh! are you gonna shoot me? 'cause I don't think your boss will be too happy about that." I told him as he began to level his weapon at me. I turned back to weaken the tie. "I said cut it out!" he ordered me as I weakend the tie enough that I could snap it off. "Relax or do you want me to gnaw through your bars? Aaa...much better.." I asked him as I headed over to the bunk beds. I sat on the bed and began to think. I needed to come up with something quick or it will be too late to save Bryn.
I gathered enough material from the bunk bed to forge a crude rope and awaited the right opportunity to use it. Zack distracted several of them toward his side of the cells. "Max! Max no! Get her down. Hurry!" screamed Zack urgently as I feigned my own hanging. "Open the door!" screamed the first guard at another who was hesitant. "I'm not opening it." screamed back the second guard still wary about opening the door. I wished they would hurry up this thing was beginning to chaff my neck I thought. "She's not worth anything dead! Open it!" said the first guard trying to reason with the second. "What the hell are you waiting for? Get her down!" screamed Zack right on cue. "Major Sander's we have a situation." said the second guard into the radio. "This is Lydecker, Over." came the response over the radio. "Where's the Major?" asked the guard suspicious. What an idiot where did he think his commander was if Lydecker was answering? I thought. "He's in the can..what's the Sig Rep?" said Lydecker getting intel from the guard. "One of the female prisoner's hung herself." stated the second guard. "Do something for God's sakes!" yelled Zack hoping to distract them from chatting with Lydecker. "Open the damm door! Do it now!" ordered the first guard. "Watch the other one." said the second one as he waited until the first guard reached Zack's cell. "Face the wall!" ordered the first guard to Zack. "Do not! I repeat do not open those cells!" screamed Lydecker through the radio as the guards entered my cell and began to untie my bonds and noose.
"On Your knees. Hand's behind your head, hand's behind your head!" demanded the first guard of Zack. I dropped from the bars and kicked the guard that held me up from choking myself with that noose. I quickly elbowed the guard that untied her neck, grabbed and tossed him at the two guards outside the cell. I immediately rushed up from behind and kick's the guard to my left and grabbed the gun away from the another. Then I bashed their heads together as Zack got the first guard from behind. Bryn knocked out a guard who was about to shoot me. "We're going to get you outta here okay?" I said to Bryn who was unable to walk under her own power. "I know your monitoring Comm's. I trained you to. There's no sense running. You'll never make it." said Lydecker with confidence in his voice. He must've called his men in that means I thought to myself. We ran down a hallway looking for a way out. "Why? because you brought in your men? You think I didn't know you would betray us and turn around and betray Sander's?" I asked him if he really believed I was stupid. "If you take Bryn she'll die. You can't do anything for her. Let my people take care of her. They've done it before to other X-5's." offered Lydecker with a warning.
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