Together -- Chapter 51

Disclaimer: The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Logan, etc.), and everything else that has to do with the show belong to their respective owners, not to me. No money is being made off of this fic. I only own the original characters (Becky/X6-405, etc.).

“This is so surreal,” Max said that night to Zack and they sat around in the safe house. “I can’t believe that I’m being forced out of town like this. It’s amazing how Manticore can be long gone and still manage to screw us over.”

“I know,” Zack agreed.

“What should we do once we get out of town?” Max asked. “Should we try to make it to Canada or does that even matter? Zack, I’m so sick of being hunted like an animal. First it was being on the run from Lydecker and then Renfro for so long after we escaped and now it’s White and his bastards, plus on top of that we’re running from a fourteen-year-old girl who was supposed to be dead and can kill us without caring about it or breaking too much of a sweat.”

Zack shook his head. “I can’t stand this either, Maxie. I think what’s getting to us is that it’s out of our hands. We were forced into this situation. Not only that, but Becky’s sister is something of an unknown enemy. At least we know how to deal with regular soldiers trying to come after us. We haven’t seen what she is capable of. We’ve only read it and have been told it by Lydecker. If what we’ve heard is true, though...”

“Speaking of being forced into this situation, can you imagine what Becky is going through right now?” Max said. “This has to be hell for her. I wish that there was something that we could so to help her.”

“I don’t know if there is anything that we can do,” Zack said. “The fact is that this is Becky’s sister and this is her responsibility. You know that I would help her and I know that you would too if there was a way, but 662’s mission takes us both out of the equation. If she can be stopped at all, it will most likely be Becky who will be the one who will stop her. I have faith in her and I know that she’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Do you think that she’ll actually kill 662 if it comes to that?” Max asked quietly.

Zack hugged Max. “I don’t know if she will or not. I know that it will kill her inside if she ends up being forced to do that.” He looked Max in the eye. “You know that I don’t hold anything against you for what happened with Ben. You did the right thing by killing him when he asked you to.”

“I shouldn’t have had to,” Max said. “He was right, though. Lydecker and his men were too close for me to be able to get a safe distance away while carrying him. I wish it hadn’t come to that.”

“It’s easy to think of everything that could have happened instead,” Zack said. “There’s the obvious ‘what if Ben hadn’t gone crazy and was as relatively normal as the rest of us.’ There’s ‘What if Ben hadn’t gone to Seattle?’ Then there are my two personal favorites, ‘What if I had known about what Ben was doing?’ and ‘What if I had been the one to confront Ben?’”

Max was a little surprised. “You didn’t know what was going on with him? Weren’t you checking in on Ben from time to time like you were with the others?”

“I was,” Zack said. “But Ben knew how to cover his tracks from me. He could always do that back at Manticore, though I’d always find him or figure what he’d be up to eventually. You were always quicker at catching onto him than I was. By the time that I had caught on to the murders that he was committing, you had already confronted him and he was dead.”

“It would almost definitely have been messier if you had been the one to confront Ben,” Max commented. “I remember how the two of you used to get along back when we were kids. You guys were definitely close but Ben could really get under your skin when he wanted to.” She managed a smile. “I guess he and Alec really are alike other than the face in some ways.”

“Maybe,” Zack said. “I don’t know Alec as well as you know him. I’ve only met the guy a few times.”

“Thanks for not killing him when he told you that he was the father of Brin’s baby,” Max said. “I think Brin wants the kid to have his or her father around.”

“I’m back,” Becky said. She put the things that she had been carrying down on the floor. “I got Zack’s things from my apartment and some of Max’s stuff from her apartment and two sleeping bags for you guys. I hope it’s enough.”

“It should be fine,” Zack said. “Are you doing okay?”

“No,” Becky confessed. “I don’t think I am.” She was quiet for a few moments. “Have either of you ever feel like this before? Like you’re about to run right into a brick wall and there’s not much that you can do to slow yourself down before you hit?”

“No,” Max said. “I don’t think I have.”

Becky looked at Max. “Are you scared, Max?”

“It’s always scary when someone wants you dead,” Max said.

“I am so sorry, Max,” Becky apologized.

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Max said. “Where’s Maggie? Did she go back to her apartment or is she staying in Seattle tonight?”

“She’s gonna stay in the city tonight,” Becky said. “She’ll be crashing on my couch since Zack’s going to be here tonight.” Her cell phone rang and she answered it. “What have you got, Jeff?”

“She’s stopped for the night,” Jeff said. “She’s sleeping in an abandoned house about a mile south southwest of the city. She’s fast asleep right now and she’s seems like she’s a pretty heavy sleeper. Is that an effect of the chip or was she always like that?”

Becky had to smile. “She was always a heavy sleeper. 662 had the most normal sleeping habits out of all of us. She could go a few days with no sleep if she absolutely had to, but she usually needed about six or so hours of sleep every night and it was hard to wake her up before she wanted to be woken up. I’m glad to hear that hasn’t changed about her. Can you give me directions to 662’s location from the safe house?”

“Can do,” Jeff said. He gave Becky the directions.

“Excellent,” Becky said. “I’ll be by soon and take watch and then you and Alec can go back to your respective apartments.”

“Okay,” Jeff said. “Then one of us will come back to relieve you so that you can get some sleep.”

“That sounds good,” Becky said. “I’ll be there soon.” She disconnected and turned back to Max and Zack. “It looks like I’ve got some surveillance to do. This should be interesting.”

“If you need anything, let us know,” Max said. “Hey, I have to ask.”

Becky smiled. “I know. I’ll check in with you later.” She left.

“I’m worried about her, Max,” Zack confessed.

“I think we all are,” Max agreed.

TBC