Episode 3.14 - Hugger Mugger 6 страница

 

"Thanks," said Max.

 

"For a change."

 

"Thanks a lot!" Max said, laughing.

 

Sketchy wheeled his bike between the girls, saying, "Beep, beep."

 

"Excuse you," said Max, stepping out of the way.

 

"Thank you very much." Sketchy emptied his pouch on the counter. "Max, there's a wicked hottie out front asking everybody if they're a transgenic."

 

"I know," Max said. "I had a thoroughly unsatisfactory conversation with her. I couldn't figure out what the hell she wanted."

 

"I'll tell you what she wanted," said Sketchy, turning the bill of his cap to the side. Leaning forward, he stage-whispered, "She made me an indecent proposal."

 

Max and Original Cindy both laughed.

 

"That's the God's honest truth!" said Sketchy, sounding hurt. "Then, when I told her I wasn't a transgenic, she moved on to someone else." He tapped his temple with his forefinger. "She's crazy." He balanced his bike on its rear tire, and wheeled it away.

 

"Huh," said Max.

 

"A lady takes care of her personal appearance," Original Cindy said, seizing the opportunity to return to their initial conversation. "Even if she has to be all the time saving the world."

 

"What?" asked Max, distracted. She turned back to her friend, and smiled affectionately. "So true. It's one of the burdens of womanhood. We have to save the world, but we still have to look good doing it."

 

"Don't your head feel lighter?" asked Original Cindy. "You must feel better like this."

 

"Not so much," said Max, as she was swept by a wave of nausea. She rocked unsteadily. "Oof!" she exclaimed.

 

"What's the matter, boo?" Original Cindy asked, catching Max around the waist.

 

Leaning heavily on Original Cindy, Max put a hand to her forehead. "That's strange," she said. "I almost lost my balance."

 

Normal popped up from behind his counter, his headset dangling around his neck. "Break it up, you two!" he snapped. "This is a place of business, not one of your Sapphic sex shows!"

 

Original Cindy made a face. "Sapphic sex show?" she repeated. In the background, the phone rang.

 

Max groaned again. "I feel sick to my stomach."

 

"Suddenly, so do I," Original Cindy said.

 

Normal pursed his lips. "Hmm," he said. "On second thought . . ."

 

"Don't say it!" Original Cindy snapped.

 

"As you were," Normal said sweetly. He turned away to answer the phone.

 

"What did he just say?" Max asked. "My head is spinning."

 

"If there are Sapphic sex shows," OC groused, "I would like to know about it."

 

"I'm really not feeling well here," Max told her friend.

 

"Come on," Original Cindy said, getting a better grip on Max. "The further you are from Normal, the better you'll feel." They shuffled to the lounge area. Max dropped onto one of the worn sofas with a grateful sigh. She wrapped her arms around herself, and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. Original Cindy settled down beside her, and gave her a wise, speculative look. "Feelin' sick?" she asked. "Got a tummy ache?"

 

"Yeah," said Max unhappily. "I wish I knew what was wrong with me."

 

Original Cindy touched Max lightly on the knee. She said, "I don't suppose you've given any thought to starting a family?"

 

"What?" said Max, startled. "No! Why do you ask?"

 

Original Cindy smiled. "Boo," she said gently. "You and Logan. You told me that the two of you . . ."

 

"But I can't," said Max.

 

"I know transgenics can get pregnant," Original Cindy said. "I delivered a transgenic baby right upstairs." She shrugged. "I helped, anyways."

 

"Transgenics can get pregnant," said Max, frowning. "Of course they can."

 

"Can't you get pregnant by humans?"

 

"Of course," said Max. "Jace did." She looked away. "And Tinga." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

 

"See?" Original Cindy said. "You're all hormonal."

 

"No," said Max, in a small voice. "Just thinking about sad things."

 

"If you're pregnant...would it be a happy thing?" Original Cindy asked. Her tone was very delicate. "Or a sad thing?"

 

Max put a finger to Original Cindy's lips. "Shush," she said. "It's not true. It can't be."

 

"What do you mean?" said Original Cindy. "Didn't they teach you anything at the Manticore? Nothin's for sure, except not doing it at all."

 

"No," Max said, sighing harshly. She stared off into the distance, her eyes cloudy. "It's not that. It's me. I can't."

 

Advanced Recombinant Genetics Laboratory, Terminal City – July 1, 2021

 

"We must get started," Sandeman said urgently, standing up. "Joshua, please go on ahead to the infirmary and have Aveta prepare blood collection equipment. We'll be along shortly." Joshua, with a curious look, turned and left to do as he was asked. Sandeman gathered up some papers and started to follow him out the door.

 

"Hold up," Max said hotly. "What is it about my blood that's gonna save the world?"

 

"You're going to share your immunity," Sandeman answered with a smile. "This is your body's primary function. It'll stop anything that gets in the way. Any infection, any cell, anything." He laid a hand on her shoulder. "You were meant to be unique, Max. There'll never be another like you."

 

Jam Pony – present day

 

Max was brought out of her reverie by the sound of explosive laughter. There was a crowd of messengers in the doorway. They were talking excitedly, making ribald comments. "Normal," yelled one of the guys. "Can I borrow your stamp pad?"

 

"Hey, boo," Original Cindy said over the noise. "Whatcha thinkin'? You spaced on me."

 

"There will be no stamping," Normal shouted from the cage.

 

"Oh," Max said, in response to Original Cindy's question. "I guess I was thinking...I'm just a mule."

 

"Not on your necks," Normal cried. "Not on any portion of your anatomies!"

 

Original Cindy flashed an irritated look at Normal, and turned back to Max. "Ain't we all?" She waved a hand, indicating their surroundings. "Regular pack mules."

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From the cage, Normal barked, "The last time someone borrowed my stamp pad, I almost had to shoot him!"

 

"Is that a ‘no?'"" another messenger asked, sounding very disappointed. "Because we have a chance with some high-class honeys, here."

 

Max tried to focus on Original Cindy. "I mean me," she said. "I'm...I'm sterile."

 

"What?" said Original Cindy, sounding shocked. "How do you know that?"

 

"Sandeman made this comment . . ." Max told her friend what the old man had said. "It didn't mean much to me at the time, but I think I get it now. I wasn't built to reproduce."

 

"That's sick!" said Original Cindy hotly. "And mean, too! It makes no sense!"

 

"There's so much about Sandeman that never made sense." Max drew up a leg and rested her forehead against her knee. "Maybe it was just that he worked so much in secret...I don't know." She broke off, thinking. When she continued, her voice was contemplative. "Everything had to be a hint, or a riddle...like the runes. He couldn't just come out and tell me about my screwed-up genes."

 

Original Cindy shook her head in frustration. "He went to a lot of trouble to make you. Having you be a one-shot deal...well, you never said Sandeman was stupid."

 

"What do you mean?" asked Max. There was more excited commentary from the doorway, and Max looked up, irritated. "Oh, brother," she said. "What now?"

 

Sketchy approached the girls, wheeling his bike. "It's that woman I told you about, Max. The crazy lady."

 

"She didn't look crazy to me," Max said. "Well, maybe a little. She was weird, but she just seemed like another rich lady. You know the type."

 

"There are some other ones outside now, too," he said, grinning. "And they're all-American Grade-A babes." He gave a big thumbs-up. "Every single one gets two of these from Inspector Sketch Master."

 

"What the hell is going on?" demanded Max.

 

"They're offering money for...sex. To have sex with transgenics."

 

Max's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?" she said. Her eyes were huge.

 

"Whoa," said Original Cindy, throwing up her hands. "To each her own, but Original Cindy draws the line at paying for a good time."

 

"What are they?" Max said disgustedly. "Groupies?"

 

Sketchy's face became thoughtful.

 

"You are much too sickly to be a transgenic," Original Cindy pointed out.

 

"Thanks," Sketchy said sourly. He wheeled his bike away.

 

"And ugly!" Original Cindy called after him.

 

"That was harsh," Max said, biting back a smile.

 

"Original Cindy was feeling like she had to nip that in the bud."

 

"Yeah," Max said. "Maybe it's just as well."

 

"What are these silly sistahs after?" Original Cindy said, scrunching up her nose.

 

"Oh, man," said Max, as suddenly, she figured it out. Unconsciously, she put a protective hand on her stomach. Original Cindy saw the gesture, and smiled.

 

Max was shaking her head, looking incredulous. With a jolt, Original Cindy realized what Max was thinking, and her eyes widened. "No," she breathed. "Those women...they want the transgenics to knock them up?"

 

"After everything that's happened," Max said, "after everything I've done and seen, nothing much surprises me anymore."

 

"Wow," said Original Cindy. "Make way for the super babies."

 

"Could it really be that easy?" Max said in wonderment. "After all the anger? After all the propaganda and the fear? Some crazy women decide to practice amateur eugenics, and suddenly transgenics are the new fad in Seattle?"

 

"You gonna tell the others?" Original Cindy asked. "Issue a general alert?"

 

Max began to laugh. "Oh, God," she said. "Nobody have sex! Everybody keep your pants zipped!"

 

Original Cindy was laughing too. "They'll figure it out," she managed to gasp.

 

Fogle Towers

 

Logan was at his workstation, deep in thought. He was staring at the computer monitor, his chin resting in the palm of his hand. Gradually, he became aware of a shadowy presence behind him. He wheeled around, saying, "How long have you been standing there?"

 

"You rang?" Alec grinned.

 

"Yeah," Logan said, flexing his shoulders. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I was hoping you could give me a hand with something. Eyes Only business."

 

"Where's your girlfriend?" Alec asked. "She likes to play super hero." The expression on Logan's face made him pause. "Something you're not telling me?"

 

Sighing, Logan looked away. "Like, that Max and I had a disagreement over me playing my cards too close to my vest? No, nothing like that."

 

Alec made a face. "Your legs?"

 

Logan nodded, looking unhappy. His hands slid down to the rims of his wheels.

 

"It's not a secret anymore?" Alec asked.

 

"It's not a secret anymore," Logan confirmed. He rolled his wheelchair slightly forward.

 

Alec shrugged. "At least you can look forward to the make-up sex."

 

Despite himself, Logan smiled. "Trust you to find the silver lining."

 

"So, I'm just here to pinch hit for Max. You know, I'm very busy these days." Acting put upon, Alec turned away and went to stand by the window. Over his shoulder, he said, "I have a business to run."

 

Logan's upper lip twitched. "I know." He cleaned his glasses on his sweater. "How's the glamorous world of detection treating you?"

 

Alec looked out the window. "Fine," he said defensively, his breath fogging the glass. "Amazing. We just got a new client."

 

"Great," said Logan. "Good for you."

 

Alec huffed on the glass. In the resulting cloudy patch, he wrote his name with the tip of his finger. "Ah," he said irritably. "Who am I trying to kid? She was a crackpot."

 

"That's gonna happen," Logan said, amused. "What did she want?"

 

"Sex," Alec said. He used his sleeve to wipe away his name.

 

Logan laughed.

 

"Seriously," Alec said. "She wanted to pay me do it, right there on the desk." Again, he breathed on the glass. This time, he wrote, ‘Alec is the coolest.'

 

"Huh," said Logan. "Well, that sounds like it would be right up your alley."

 

"Hey!" Alec protested. "I am a serious detective." He drew an exclamation point after ‘Alec is the coolest.'

 

"Clean that off," Logan said, nodding at the window.

 

Alec laughed. "What if Max thinks you wrote it? Then you'll really have something to fight about."

 

Logan raised an eyebrow, and Alec grudgingly complied. "Thank you," Logan said. He put his hands on his knees. "Look, I don't want to rain on your parade or anything . . ."

 

"Then don't," Alec said.

 

"Starting up a business is hard work."

 

"I can work hard," Alec said peevishly. "You just haven't seen me do it yet." With one hand, he picked up a chair, and brought it over to Logan. He sat, propping a foot on the corner of the desk.

 

"If you say so," said Logan, and it was his turn to grin. He turned back to his computer. "I was hoping you could do a little, ah, leg work for me."

 

Uncharacteristically, Alec held his tongue. His brow furrowed, he glanced at Logan's wheelchair. He looked away without commenting.

 

"This is detective work," Logan said lightly, before the silence became too thick. Tapping at the keyboard, he brought up the schematics of a waterfront warehouse. "How ‘bout I hire you?"

 

"Now you're talking." Alec sat up, attentive. He leaned over Logan's shoulder, staring at the monitor. "What's the story?"

 

"Remember the tip about the stolen food supplies?" Logan asked.

 

"No," said Alec. "Oh, wait...the stuff for the charities?"

 

"That's it," said Logan. "It's being diverted to the black market, and sold at jacked-up prices. An informant gave up the guy behind the scam. He's a captain in the sector police."

 

"So, expose him," Alec said. "What do you need me for?"

 

Logan shot him a look. "Proof," he said.

 

"Oh, that," said Alec. "Gotcha."

 

Logan pointed at the computer screen. "I've managed to track down the warehouse where the supplies are being stored, but I need hard evidence. Footage of the bad guys in action. I'll broadcast the info and blow the lid off the whole scheme."

 

"And that will be your good deed for the week." Alec shrugged. "I guess I can swing it."

 

"You just have to break into the warehouse, and plant some cameras for me."

 

"Cool," Alec said. "I mean, the breaking in part. That's always a good time."

 

"This will be a piece of cake for you," Logan said. "I don't see how it can go sour. You're in. You're out."

 

"Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am," Alec said. He leaned back and put his hands behind his head.

 

Casually, Logan asked, "So, did you take the money?"

 

"I thought about it," Alec said, staring up at the ceiling. "But here's the thing. She wasn't the only one."

 

"What do you mean?" Logan turned to look at him.

 

"Ah," said Alec, "I think there's something in the water."

 

"There's a lot of stuff in the water," Logan said.

 

"No," said Alec. He sat up so that he could look Logan in the eye. "I was approached before. By some other dames."

 

"Dames?"

 

"I'm a detective now," Alec said.

 

"Oh, right," said Logan.

 

"Wealthy types. Offering me money for my services." He seemed honestly bewildered. "What's up with that?"

 

"That's odd," Logan said. "When did this start?"

 

"Over the last week, or so."

 

"Well," said Logan. "I guess I can look into it."

 

"It's just strange, is all," Alec said. "First, I was screwed because I was a transgenic pariah. Now, they just want to screw me."

 

"I'll ask around," Logan said. "But, to be frank, I'm not sure what you're complaining about."

 

ACT III

 

Lydecker's HQ – later that morning

 

Under the awning, in front of the Command Post tent, Zack and Lydecker talked quietly. The camp had woken around them. Recruits were drilling and carrying out their assignments. Occasionally, at the sound of flesh on flesh, or the sharp bark of a squad leader, the colonel would lift his head, observing, the expression on his face opaque. Finally, he said to Zack, "Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

 

"I'm not stupid." Zack sighed, sounding tired.

 

"I need your wholehearted cooperation," Lydecker said. "We can come out on top. This is what is known as ‘opportunity.'"

 

"No," said Zack. "This is just more dying." With his thumb, he gestured over his shoulder. "And you're setting them up to be cannon fodder."

 

"They're soldiers," the colonel said simply. "They want to do the job they were trained to do."

 

"You mean the job they were manufactured to do," Zack said. "You're not exactly being forthcoming with the information. You're not telling them what they're drilling for."

 

"Zack," Lydecker said. "I dole out information on a need-to-know basis in general. And in general, they don't need to know."

 

"Swell," Zack said, sounding disgusted.

 

"They're an elite fighting force," Lydecker said. "An expensive elite fighting force. I can't have them pissing their lives away working as bike messengers and—"

 

"Shut up," Zack snapped.

 

"This is what they trained for," Lydecker said.

 

"Shut up!" Zack hissed, holding up his hand. A second later, Jondy emerged from the tree line. Unlike Zack, she was wearing her parka. She had thrown back the hood. The sun caught her hair, and made a gleaming halo around her head. Zack raised an eyebrow.

 

"Yeah," she said, grinning. "Someone's out there."

 

Zack looked at the colonel, and a slow smile spread across his face. "Who's gunning for you now, Lydecker?"

 

"What day is it?" Lydecker asked.

 

"You might want to think about taking cover," Jondy said.

 

"Or, he could continue to stand out here in the open," Zack offered.

 

"What did he look like?" Lydecker asked, frowning at Zack.

 

Jondy shrugged. "He looked like a guy with a high-powered rifle trained on your position."

 

Zack snickered.

 

"Where is he?" Lydecker said.

 

"How about taking cover, now?" suggested Jondy. There was a muffled pop. Jondy upended the table, and shoved Lydecker behind it. She crouched beside him.

 

Almost lazily, Zack joined them. "Is there something I should know?" he said, sounding amused. There was another pop and a small flurry of splinters as the bullet grazed the table.

 

Lydecker looked at his wristwatch. "Hell," he said. "I lost track of time."

 

"Who is it?" said Zack.

 

"I needed to arm you kids." Lydecker shrugged. "I had until the 6th to come up with the cash."

 

"It's your weapons dealer?" Jondy said incredulously. "How does he think you'll pay him, if you're dead?"

 

"He's strictly small time," Lydecker said dismissively.

 

"I've been meaning to talk to you about the quality of the arsenal," Zack said. A bullet smacked the ground near his leg, sending up a little puff of dirt.

 

"In the regular army," Lydecker said, "the hardware is expensive and the troops are expendable."

 

"Whatever," said Zack. "You want me to take care of this?"

 

"It's not your problem," Lydecker said.

 

"He's sort of shooting at me, too," Zack said.

 

Another shot hit the table. "This guy really is an idiot," Jondy said.

 

"I'll be back in a second," Zack told Jondy. He jabbed a finger in the direction of the colonel. "Whatever he says, just tune him out."

 

"That is also insubordination," Lydecker pointed out.

 

"It's all so much white noise," Jondy said to Zack.

 

Zack departed in the opposite direction from the sniper's position. "That's a big circle," Lydecker remarked.

 

"Hmm," said Jondy, drumming her fingers on her knee. "He'll come up from behind."

 

"I know," said Lydecker.

 

"I know you know," she said.

 

"I'm just making conversation," Lydecker said. "To pass the time." One of the sniper's shots went wildly skyward, and tree branches cracked.

 

"Hang on." Jondy tilted her head to the side, listening. They were both able to hear a high, wailing scream. It was suddenly cut short, and there was only early morning birdsong. "That guy," she said. "I noticed he had a state-of-the-art rifle. Scope, tripod. The works."

 

"We'll add it to our arsenal," the colonel said absently. Jondy turned and leaned back against the table. She stretched out her legs, crossing them at the ankles. She laced her fingers, resting her hands on her stomach. Looking across the compound, she laughed. Out of the line of fire, the other soldiers were watching impassively.

 

Jondy smiled and gave them a friendly little wave. "Hey," she said to Lydecker. The colonel turned to look at her. Indicating the others, she said, "They're not exactly falling over their feet to jump in front of you."

 

"So I see," Lydecker said grimly.

 

"Just making conversation," said Jondy. "To pass the time."

 

Joshua's House – afternoon

 

"Ah," Cody said tentatively. "Nice baby?" He was holding Elfie under her arms."She's not gonna puke on me, is she?"

 

Joshua looked alarmed. He took a hasty step forward. "She might," he said. "You're holding her wrong."

 

"She's Manticore," Cody said simply. "I bet I could drop her on her head and she'd be fine."

 

Joshua bared his teeth, growling. "Give her to me," Gem said quickly. "Give her back."

 

Cody hung onto Elfie a moment more, staring into her tiny face. He passed her off to Gem. Gem curled a protective arm around her child. "She's not Manticore," she said defiantly. "Why would you say such a thing?"

 

"Manticore burned," Joshua said. "Finished."

 

Cody shrugged. "Maybe so," he said. "But that doesn't change who we are. And by we, I mean me and you." He pointed to himself and Gem. "You," he said, pointing at Joshua, "I don't know what the hell you're supposed to be."

 

"Cody," Gem said, twin spots of color flaring in her cheeks, "get out of here. I don't know why you came."

 

"Wait!" Cody held up his hands. "I really did want to see you. And my...my kid. I want to see her again."

 

"No, you don't," Gem said. She turned away, hugging Elfie to her breast.

 

"I want to come back," said Cody. "Please. Can I come back?"

 

Gem and Joshua exchanged a glance. "I don't know," Gem said. "We'll see. Call me at work."

 

Cody smiled. "Okay. That's great. I'll do that." With a final look around, he left.

 

"Gem," Joshua said. "I don't like him."

 

"Tell me about it," she said. "I never liked him." She looked down at Elfie and smiled a sad little smile. "But if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have her. I don't know what to think."

 

"I don't want him to come back," Joshua said, looking troubled.

 

"Maybe he just wants to see Elfie," Gem said. "Maybe he's learning what it's like to be a real person." She nuzzled Elfie's nose. "Maybe he's not all bad."

 

Joshua took a hesitant step toward her. Worriedly, he wrung his big hands. "Gem," he said. "Now that Elfie's father is back—"