Harbor Lights Hospital – 1:20 PM

Sketchy paced restlessly back and forth in the crowded Emergency
room. The place was chaotic, with more people arriving every moment,
crowding up to the triage window. Every ten to fifteen minutes, an ambulance
pulled up outside and the crew wheeled in a gurney holding another victim.
Taking a breath, he pushed his way through the crowd to the admissions
desk.

The nurse sitting behind the counter didn�t look up.

�Name?�

�Um�Calvin Simon�um, I mean I�m not sick…� Sketchy stammered.

At that, the nurse did look up. �Young man, look around you. I have
hundreds of sick people to deal with and no time to waste.�

�But my friend�they brought her here�I need to know��

�NEXT,� the woman called out, ignoring him. Sketchy slumped
his shoulders in defeat and moved away. He was about to resume pacing
when there was a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see a young girl
in a candy striper�s uniform standing there.

�You�re a Jam Pony messenger, aren�t you?� she asked.

�Yeah. I am,� Sketchy responded with a puzzled look.

�It�s on your cap,� she explained. �I think what you guys did for
the transgenics back in May was awesome. I mean, they�re people like
us, right?�

�Sure. But why do you care?�

She looked around to be sure no one was paying attention, then whispered,
�There was this guy I was dating�but��

�He was one of them?� Sketchy guessed.

The girl nodded. �I heard Nurse Ratched
blow you off up there, and being how your place helped my guy�s people
and all, I want to help you.�

Sketchy smiled for the first time since he had found Original Cindy
on the floor. �There�s a friend of mine back there�they won�t let me
see her and they won�t tell me what�s wrong with her.�

�C�mon. I�ll take you back.� She handed Sketchy a stick on pass that
said �Visitor� and led him through a set of double doors.

Command Center,
Terminal
City – 2:08 PM

Assigned tasks completed, the leaders of Terminal City gathered in the Command Center. Max paced restlessly as they monitored
the television stations for breaking news. Logan worked at hacking into the city�s medical
records database for updated information on the spread of the disease.
As she paced, Max couldn�t help looking at Logan each time she passed him, letting her gaze
sweep up and down, lingering on his toned arms and shoulders. Every
so often, she would almost imperceptibly shake herself, and run her
index finger inside the collar of her black turtleneck sweater, even
though the cool, damp fall weather had invaded Terminal City with a
vengeance

Standing to the side, Alec observed closely. Smiling, he reached
into his pocket and pressed some buttons on his cell phone. Within moments,
it trilled out loudly in the mostly silent Command Center. Alec made a production
of pulling the phone out of his pocket and answering it as he headed
toward Logan.

�Hey, Logan. Phone.� Logan swiveled his chair to face Alec and reached
out for the phone Alec was holding out to him. At the same time, Max
drew even with Logan. Alec stumbled, dropping the phone and giving Max
a push as he regained his balance. Max gasped as she found herself sitting
on Logan�s lap. For his part, Logan automatically put his arm around her to
steady her, and found her face only inches from his.

�Mmmm�� Max purred and leaned in to Logan�s waiting lips as Alec smiled to
himself. She ran her hands over his biceps as their lips met.

�Max. Think you might give us some attention over here?� Mole�s growl
broke into her concentration and she jumped up. Mole�s gaze met Alec�s,
and Alec shrugged as the lizard man glared at him.

�Phone call, Alec?� Logan asked him dryly.

�Guess it got disconnected when I dropped the phone,� Alec answered,
with a look of innocence.

�Right.� Logan turned his attention to Max, who
had moved to the opposite side of the room. Gripping the sides of his
chair, Logan pushed off as he stood and sent it rolling several feet
across the floor. Alec stuck his foot out and stopped the chair�s journey,
keeping one eye on Logan and Max, and the other eye on the supply list
Mole was trying to show him.

Logan strode over to Max, who was haphazardly
trying to busy herself with the duty roster
for the following week. He stood over her, arms folded across his chest.
She scowled and looked up at him. �Logan, I�m not getting into this
right now. I�m busy.�

He placed his hand firmly atop the paper she was working on, obscuring
her view. �Max, you need to make time. We�re going to talk about
this now.� He crouched so that he was at her eye level. Keeping
his voice low, despite the plethora of hearing-enhanced individuals
in the room, he continued, �I told you I was going to help you through
this, and I intend to. But I can�t help you if you don�t let me.� His
eyes darkened. �Is it�is it me?� He swallowed roughly. �Have I been
doing something wrong?� He lowered his voice even more, resting his
hands on her knees, her muscles clenching at his touch, the heat radiating
from her skin through the fabric of her jeans. �Because I thought�these
last few weeks or so�that things were going pretty well between us�in
that department.�

Max gritted her teeth. �Logan, it�s been fine, I swear.�

�Fine,� Logan repeated bitterly, removing his hands from
her legs.

�God, now is not the time for you
to get performance anxiety!� Max snapped, unintentionally raising her
voice. Alec coughed loudly and Max glared at him. Returning her gaze
to Logan, she saw a hurt expression on his face.
�Logan,� she began. �I�m sorry. I just��

�You just what, Max?� he asked. �I don�t understand. Make me
understand why, after all this time saying you didn�t want this to lead
to a string of back room quickies and one night stands in seedy hotels,
when you have someone who knows you and loves you and wants to help
you, you�re pushing me away.� He met Max�s gaze and held it, daring
her. She didn�t answer. �Make me understand, Max,� he repeated, his
voiced hoarse.

Max bit her lip and averted her gaze to the floor. �I can�t,� she
whispered. �I gotta go. I need air.� She stood and stalked out of the
Command Center, never once turning around
to look at Logan.

�Max!� he called after her. �Max!�

Alec cast a sidelong glance at Mole before making his way over to
Logan. Leaning against a support pole
and crossing his arms over his chest, he remarked, �Well, that
went well.�

Logan�s jaw clenched. �Piss off, Alec,� he muttered
through gritted teeth before stalking out of the Command Center himself.

�Trouble in paradise?� Mole asked, holding the cigar in his mouth
with his teeth.

�Shut up, Mole,� Alec replied, sighing heavily and shaking his head
as he returned to Mole and the supply list.

Outdoors Near the Rail Yards, Terminal City

The group of thirty X-series stood listening to the young woman who
was speaking earnestly to them. She was about Max�s age and build, with
long straight black hair, and aquamarine eyes.

��We�re nothing but sitting ducks here. One of these days, they�re
going to decide they�ve had enough of this and come in with their troops,
and we�re history. I don�t know about you guys, but I don�t place a
lot of faith in some renegade X5 who cut out before she finished her
training. What does she know about tactics and strategy? Her friends
are all ordinaries, civilians. She�s a civilian herself.� She paused
for breath.

�What do we do about it, Zeri?� asked an X6. �Mole and the rest do
whatever she and her ordinary boyfriend tell them to.�

�We gather our weapons and prepare to defend ourselves. Maybe
sooner than you think. There�s another disease going around out
there and guess who the ordinaries are blaming.�

�How do we get weapons? Everything is locked up, under guard. And
how are thirty of us going to go up against a major ordinary attack
force?� this from a female, an X5.

The leader turned to another X. �Reese here is on the armory guard
detail. He has the codes and keys to the weapons storage. As for numbers,
don�t think we�re the only group. There are cells organized and ready
to roll as needed. We also have outside sources and they tell us that
the ordinaries may attack within the next twenty-four hours. I want
you all to be ready to move when you get the word.�

The assembled Xs nodded and the group broke up, moving off in singles
and pairs so as not to attract undue attention as they returned to the
more populated areas of Terminal City.

Oak Street, Terminal City��

Max walked along Oak Street aimlessly, kicking at scattered debris. As she walked, her cell
phone rang and, pulling it out of her pocket, she flipped it open. �Yeah?�

�Max. It�s Sketchy.�

�What are you calling me about? Normal got the word to halt our deliveries, right?�

�Huh? I dunno, I�ve been at the hospital all day with Original Cindy.�

�What?! Why is she in the hospital? Where?� There was panic in Max�s voice.

�Harbor Lights. She collapsed this morning with the bug that�s going around.�

�I�m on it.� Max closed her phone with a snap and looked around for
the closest sewer entry point. Then she turned and ran for the warehouse
where they had stored Alec�s bike. Within moments, she had rolled it
into the street and, jumping on, she gunned the motor.

Logan came around the corner just in time to see Max roaring off in the
direction of the rail yards. �What the hell?� Turning, he headed quickly
back toward Command.

Rail yards, Terminal City

Max sped through the rail yards toward the exit point they used to
smuggle Shankar and others in and out of Terminal City. She forced back the tears
that welled in her eyes as a result of the wind whipping her face, and
the fact that her best friend was hospitalized. She�d had no time to
go fetch a pair of riding glasses, so she squinted
her eyes against the wind.

Just as she was nearing the exit point, Max became aware of a blur
of motion to her right. Ahead of her, Alec stood, having run at his
enhanced speed to get ahead of her. Max slammed on the brakes and brought
the bike to a stop inches from where Alec stood, arms crossed, staring
at her.

�What, Alec?� Max asked bitingly.

�Taking a joyride?� Alec asked, arching a brow. �Feelin� a need to put some power between your legs?�

Max gritted her teeth and shifted in the bike�s seat, feeling her
blood boil at the close proximity to a male, especially an X5 male,
even if said male happened to be the bane of her existence. �Not that
it�s any of your business,� Max said impatiently. �But Original Cindy
is in the hospital. Sketchy just called me.� She looked down. �They
think she�s got this latest disease everyone wants to blame us for.�
Max sighed and tucked her hair into her turtleneck in an attempt to
disguise her identity somewhat.�

Alec relented, his expression softening. �I�m sorry, Max.� He paused.
�But running off to see her without telling anyone – it�s not exactly
the behavior of a CO.� He walked closer to her. �Even if that CO is
currently trying not to jump the bones of any male who crosses her path.�
He leaned in, his breath rushing across Max�s skin. She shivered involuntarily,
and his nostrils flared at the scent of her pheromones.

She gunned the bike�s engine back to life. �Get away from me, Alec.
You don�t know anything about what I�m going through.�

�I don�t?� he asked, incredulous. �You�re not the only female X5
to go into heat, you know. I was around a lot of horny women at Manticore,
Maxie. So why don�t you just stop acting like it�s some kind of leprosy
and accept it for what it is.� He positioned himself back in front of
the motorcycle.

�Get out of my way, Alec,� Max hissed.

�I didn�t come down here to get run over,� Alec said.

�Then why did you?� she snapped.

�Because when I heard Logan come over the comm
asking everyone on patrol to keep an eye out for you, and then I heard
that my bike isn�t where it�s supposed to be, I wanted to make
sure you weren�t running away.� He leveled his gaze on her.

They held this staring contest for several tense minutes, Max�s eyes
full of anger, Alec�s teeming with daring and bravado. Suddenly, Max
revved the engine once more. �This conversation is over.� With that,
she peeled out, not bothering to maneuver around where Alec stood resolute.
He had to dive out of her path to avoid being run over.

�Stop fighting it!� Alec hollered after her as he scrambled to his
feet, counting on her enhanced hearing to pick up his words. �Stop fighting
who you are,� he muttered to himself before jogging back towards the
buildings.

Guard Post� #29,
Terminal City

The two Guardsmen on duty were intent on a game of poker when the
motorcycle roared through the checkpoint.

Grabbing a comm, one spoke rapidly, �Post
29 to base – A black motorcycle with female rider has just breached
the perimeter, heading north toward Sector 5��

Harbor Lights Medical � 4:30
PM

Dr. Beverly Shankar wheeled a patient through the halls of Harbor Lights Medical. The patient�s head was bowed and partially wrapped in gauze
and her neck was in a foam brace. Shankar maneuvered the chair into
a room that was already occupied by another patient. She wheeled the
chair up to the bed and put her hand on the shoulder of the patient
in the chair. �I�ll be back in ten minutes,� she murmured, and left.

Max lifted her head and wheeled the chair in closer to Original Cindy�s
bed. Reaching out to touch her friend�s hand, she whispered, �Hey.�

Original Cindy�s eyes fluttered open. She smiled as she tried to
focus on Max. �Hey, boo.�

�How are you feeling?� Max asked.

Cindy shrugged slightly, �Nothing a year�s paid vacation couldn�t
cure. Original Cindy plans to get on Normal�s ass when she gets out of here for some
well deserved time off.�

�If he says �No�, gimme a call and I�ll
set him straight. Can�t have him working my girl ragged.� Max chuckled
wryly, then sobered. �You�re gonna be fine. Dr. Shankar said you got
this bitch beat, all ya need is some beauty rest.�

�They�re trying to blame it on y�all, ain�t they?� Cindy asked, her voice hoarse.

Max tried to appear nonchalant. �Another day, another thing we�re
the scapegoats for.�

Original Cindy squeezed Max�s hand and frowned. �Your skin�s hotter
than a fine new piece of sugar. What�s the dealio,
boo? You getting this bitch of a bug, too?�

Max shook her head, chagrinned. �No. I�m fine.�

�Don�t be lyin� to Original Cindy now,
sugah, cuz I ain�t havin� none of that.�

Max sighed and bowed her head. When she finally lifted it to meet
her best friend�s gaze, Original Cindy was taken aback at the war of
conflicting emotions she saw in Max�seyes.
Terror, lust, rage, shame, embarrassment – all there, killing the fire
that usually burned in� them.

�I�m in heat – again,� Max said, staring past her friend, out the
window.

Original Cindy frowned, �So then what in hell are
you doing here? Why aren�t you and Logan locked away back at
the homestead trying to beat Kendra�s record of twelve straight gong-banging
hours?� She searched Max�s eyes, trying to catch her friend�s gaze.
Max raised a brow briefly at the mention of her former roommate, but
her gaze did not waver from the fixed point she stared at through the
window. �Max,� she said gently. �Does this have anything to do with
what happened last time?�

Max snapped her gaze from the window and met Original Cindy�s eyes,
as she was transported back in time to the hellish heat cycle that had
hit shortly after her return to Seattle from Manticore.

Original Cindy knocked on their bathroom
door. �Get yo ass in gear, boo. Time�s a wastin�
and I don�t wanna hear Normal�s
bitchin� this mornin�. Didn�t them black helicopter dudes teach you to be
quick?� She grinned in anticipation of Max�s retort. When she got none,
she pressed her ear to the door, her grin fading. �Max?� She jiggled
the door handle and found it locked. �Max?!�
Her voiced was frantic. She tried the door several more times, but it
wouldn�t budge.

Original Cindy dashed to the kitchen and
grabbed a skillet off the half-broken stove. Racing back to the bathroom,
she used it like a sledgehammer on the doorknob. After several tense
minutes, she broke it off and used her body weight to force open the
door. Once inside the bathroom, she was horrified
at the sight of Max curled up on the floor beside a vomit-filled toilet,
shaking and sweating.

Cindy dropped to Max�s side, smoothing her
sweat-drenched hair, feeling her skin hot to the touch. �Do you need
your meds, boo?� she asked gently.

Max shook her head. �This isn�t th-the�seizures.�
She swallowed roughly. �It�s the heat.�

Original Cindy�s eyes widened. �This is
your itch doing this to you?�

Max nodded as her friend grabbed a washcloth
and ran it under cool water, resting it on Max�s sweat-drenched brow.
�We d-destroyed their lab�and they wanted us to breed.� She gasped and
swallowed against the bile that rose in her throat. �Rumor had it th–they were s-spiking our food with something to make the heat
m-more�intense. The only relief is to g-give in �you can�t know how
b-bad I want to do that�� Her last words were barely a whisper, �I w-won�t�I�L-Logan��

Cindy dabbed Max�s forehead. �They wanted
to build back their ranks.� She sighed. �Damn.� Resting the washcloth
alongside Max�s cheek, she whispered, �Don�t worry, boo – Original Cindy�s
got your back. She�ll get you through this.� Returning to the sink to
rinse the cloth out, she murmured to herself, �I hope.�

�You got me through it,� Max whispered, returning her stare to the
view outside the hospital room�s window.

Original Cindy half-laughed dryly. �Cold showers until we ran outta water and stealin� some of
Little Manny�s roofies to keep you out until
it passed.� She let out a long breath. �That was some whacked stuff,
boo.�

Max nodded.

�So why ain�t you shaking like a junkie after a drug bust this time?�

Max shrugged, �Damned if I know. This freak show body of mine is
a bag of tricks.� She grunted bitterly. �I should take my act on the
road.�

�Which brings me back to what I asked you two minutes ago,� Original
Cindy said. �Why isn�t your ass getting its freak on with Hot Boy? There�s
no virus, there�s no problems as far as Original Cindy can see.� She
took Max�s hand. �You got your itch and you have some fine means to
scratch it. So get goin�.�

Max simply shook her head, her gaze transfixed. �I can�t. I can�t
let Logan see what I become. When I go into heat,
Manticore wins. They get what they set out to create – something that
walks and talks like a human, but underneath�I�m just an animal.�

Original Cindy�s eyes filled with tears at the sound of Max�s voice.
It was flat. It wasn�t full of pain or fear or anger or any of the emotions
Cindy saw fighting for equal time in Max�s eyes. Max�s voice was just�dead.

Police Headquarters, Seattle – 6:10 PM

Ramon Clemente looked up as Matt Sung entered his office. �Please
tell me that the good doctors of Seattle have figured out what�s causing
our latest plague?� His weariness was evident in his voice and it was
obvious that he was close to the limits of his endurance.

Sung shook his head in disgust. �Wish I had better news to report,
sir, but they don�t seem to be able to agree on anything. Dr. I�m-A-Virus-Specialist
insists it�s some new and exotic virus no one�s ever seen before, but
Dr. Bacteria�s-My-Thing is positive it�s a bacterium that terrorists
have slipped into our water supply. And then we have Dr. I-Watched-Too-Many-X-Files
babbling on about alien conspiracies and replacement humans��

The two men�s eyes met in a rare moment of shared understanding.
Clemente sighed heavily. �You know, all I ever wanted was to be a detective.
Catch the guilty, bring them to justice, make
the streets safe for the average Joe. Instead, I end up here, pushing
paper and dealing with a city that gets crazier every day. Even our
doctors seem to be teetering on the edge of sanity. Days like this I
just want to chuck it all and head out to Podunk, Kansas, where I can
spend my time giving out parking tickets and locking up the town drunk
to sleep it off overnight.�

�Yeah, I know what you mean.� Sung hesitated, then emboldened by
Clemente�s unusual openness, went on, �So what about the transgenics?
You don�t seem to subscribe to the popular theory that they�re the Satan
behind this thing.�

�Max doesn�t strike me as stupid. She has nothing to gain by a stunt
like this, and everything to lose. So, no, I don�t believe they�re behind
this. Not that that matters. If it isn�t proven otherwise, in about
fifteen hours, Mayor Tweed will be calling in the feds. God help us
all if that happens.�

Sung started to reply, but at that moment, there was a shrill beeping
and a sheet of paper slipped out of the fax machine on the credenza
behind Clemente�s desk. Clemente read the
paper in silence, then handed it to Sung. �It
appears we�ve had a sighting of the fugitive wanted for the murder of
that young, blind girl. I ordered some new sewer sweeps, and he attacked
an officer doing one, just outside of Terminal City.�

�What do you intend to do?� Sung inquired.

�I intend to advise Max that she�s harboring a fugitive and that
we expect her to hand him over to us.� Clemente turned and picked up
his phone as Sung quietly left the office.

Outdoors, Terminal City – 6:30 PM

The trip back in had been a harrowing game of escape and evade, and
Max rolled her neck to relieve some of her tension, as she walked from
where she had returned Alec�s bike.

Rounding a corner, she heard voices and stealthily pressed her body
against the wall, eavesdropping on their conversation. A group of twenty
transgenics was gathered around a female X5.

��it�s time we take a stand and defend ourselves. The government
wanted their perfect soldiers – I say we give �em
to �em.�

�What about Max?� a voice from the crowd yelled.

The leader replied arrogantly, �Any one of us could take her on any
day. We�ve got ten years of training on her.�

�Yeah,� Max said, stepping out of the shadows, her voice cold. �But
I think I can hack it.� Suddenly, she snapped, �State your designation.�

The woman squared her shoulders and held her head high. �X5-666,�
she replied, her voice thick with disdain.

Max arched a brow, �Did you pick that one or did you hafta earn it?�

�Such wit,� 666 remarked wryly, causing snickers from the crowd.

�Got a name, 666?� Max asked, refusing to
get her feathers ruffled.

The dark haired woman stepped toe to toe with Max. �Feel free to
call me Zeri, 452.�

Max growled, �You got a problem, Zeri?� She practically spat
the name.

�Actually,� Zeri replied, stepping back a bit and gesturing to the
crowd, �we all do – it�s you and your little ordinary play-thing. We
think it�s time for a change of power around here.�

�You think you could take me?� Max sneered, her body language indicating
she was anticipating a fight.

�Oh, yeah,� Zeri replied, adopting her own fighting stance.

�Bring it on,� Max challenged, her eyes blazing. The crowd formed
a ring around the two women.

Zeri launched herself at Max, kicking her in the stomach and sending
her flying across the open space. Max brought herself to her feet, despite
the fact that Zeri had knocked the wind out of her. In
counter-attack, Max raced at her at top speed and round-house-kicked
her in the jaw, knocking her to the ground. Zeri flipped to her
feet and grabbed Max�s wrist, twisting painfully. She clutched Max by
the throat and picked her up, throwing her across the yard. Max leapt
to her feet, grabbing a fallen piece of plywood. She hit Zeri in the
back with it and ripped her shirt, drawing blood. Zeri snatched the
plank out of Max�s hands and rammed it back into Max�s ribs. The de
facto leader of Terminal City stumbled backwards amidst
the noise of the crowd.

Regaining her footing, Max angrily swung at Zeri, but the raven-haired
woman ducked. Max swung again, but Zeri blocked the shot and responded
with punches of her own. They kicked each other, expertly blocking the
other�s legs. Max finally connected and Zeri fell to the ground. Max
leapt on top of her and pinned Zeri�s arms above her head.

�Still think you can beat me?� Max panted.

�I know I can,� Zeri replied, bringing her legs out from under Max
and using them to propel Max off her. Zeri jumped to her feet, but Max
grabbed her ankles and Zeri crashed to the ground. Max flipped to her
feet and stepped on Zeri�s hand.

�Looks like I win,� Max said, wiping the sweat and blood from her
face.

�Guess again,� Zeri sneered, grabbing the wood and leaping to her
feet, brandishing it at Max. She swung once, ripping the front of Max�s
sweater.

Max jumped back and taunted, �Missed me.�

�Sorry to disappoint,� Zeri said and once more launched herself at
Max. She jumped in the air and scissor-kicked, trapping Max�s torso
between her legs and flinging her to the ground. Max�s head made contact
with the pavement and she grunted. Max came to her feet, but Zeri launched
herself in the air and hit her hard with both feet, sending Max crashing
into a wall with a sickening thud.

Both women were dirty, covered in sweat and blood, some of it not
their own.

�This ends now,� Max growled, glaring first at Zeri, then
at the crowd. �There�s a whole city out there looking for any
excuse to take us out, and you and your little general with your guns
and your attitude are gonna give them the excuse they need.� She seethed,
wiping the blood and sweat from her face. �It isn�t about who has the
power – it�s about making sure that power is used to keep everyone
alive. Got it?� Her gaze dared anyone to take her on. She turned to
walk away.

�All the more reason that TC needs a leader whose first priority
isn�t her boy toy.� Zeri�s voice was cool and mocking. �This isn�t over.�

Max stopped in her tracks and sighed wearily, �I know,� before continuing
on inside Terminal City.

Max�s Quarters � 8:00 PM

Max sat cross-legged on her bedroll, in the small room she had taken
over as her quarters.

��the more I tried to get close to you, the more you pulled away��
Darren got up and walked away.

Logan sat in the old junker and looked at he, his eyes full of pain, �We can�t
keep going through this��

��you weren�t there. You ran. You and your
little rugrat brothers and sisters�� Alec
shrugged off her hand and turned away from her roughly.

�It�s what you do, isn�t it? Run away? Like
when it got too rough for you back at Manticore�� Her clone stared at
her with accusing eyes.

�The thing about freedom�it�s never free.�
Logan looked at her sadly over Cece�s dead body.

The
sound of a throat clearing caught her attention and she looked up to
see an X5 from the rebel group standing in the doorway.

�Come
to check things out and report back how badly 452�s ass is hurting right
now?� she snapped at him as she jumped up and began to prowl restlessly
around the small room.

�No.�
He paused, �I was thinking that maybe you�re right�if the Feds come
in, we�re outnumbered and outgunned�I�m not so sure I want to commit
suicide. If you�re interested, I could keep you in the loop of what�s
going down, feed you intelligence data.� He smiled at her as she stopped
and stared at him.

Max
flushed at his proximity and involuntarily her eyes traveled slowly
over his body. �Thanks,� her voice was low and husky.

He
studied her closely for a moment, nostrils slightly dilated as a slow,
sexy smile spread across his face. �Heat?� he asked. Max hesitated,
then reluctantly nodded. He smiled again. �I thought so.�

Reaching
over, he brushed back her hair, gently touching the bruise that had
formed on her cheek after her fight with Zeri. �You oughta
put some ice on that.��

Max
trembled at the touch of his hand, fists clenched at her sides. She
stood there, frozen, unable to move to save herself.

The
X5 leaned in and touched his lips to the bruise and with a groan, Max
surrendered to her body�s demands. Within seconds, they were lying on
the bedroll, hands frantically pulling and tugging at clothing, lips
clinging, legs intertwined. Max�s sweater was gone, sent flying across
the room with the X5�s t-shirt. Breaking the kiss, he sat back on his
heels, straddling her legs, and began to slide down the zipper of her
jeans. As he did, their eyes met, and through the fog of her heat, scenes
flashed in front of her eyes.

Sitting in a bed, with Rafer
sleeping next to her�crying in the shower afterwards�

��you gonna have to step to the real about
you and Logan – sooner or later��

On the floor next to Logan�s outstretched legs, his eyes full of an emotion she
is afraid to put a name to.

�Will you look at us?� he says softly.

�Pathetic,� she replies with a look that
belies the word.

Logan smiles down at her, �Hopeless.� His eyes telling her the opposite.

�Lucky we hooked up,� she responds.

�Happy anniversary.� Logan leans forward
and gently kisses her cheek, and she turns
her head so their lips meet. They kiss, learning the taste and feel
of each other�

�NO!�
Max�s voice came out in a fierce growl, forced from her throat. �I won�t.�
Max pushed him off of her and jumped to her feet. She turned to look
for her sweater and instead her eyes found Logan, standing in the doorway.
His gaze flickered from the shirtless X5 sprawled on her bedroll to
her. For a moment, their eyes locked and then he turned and left without
a word, as Max stood there frozen, conscious of the damning evidence
of her missing sweater and partially undone jeans.

�Logan,
wait�I wasn�t�I wouldn�t�� But it was too late. Logan was gone.

END OF ACT III