Chapter 18: Epilogue
Logan's Penthouse, Seattle
It was strange that things were finally back to normal, or rather more than normal. After years of running and hiding, only to end up back where she started, Max had considered escape and evade the norm. Fighting for freedom had been a step above the norm. This...knowing no one was out to get her and that she was safe...that was abnormal.
As soon as the cure had been delivered to the CDC, more of it was made and distributed to the general public. There were still many that couldn't afford it, or countries that didn't have it, and so millions died around the world. Although it was a tragic epidemic, Earth's population was stabilized to a point where the Familiars would still not be able to rise even if they survived the attack the military had conducted against them. So far, there were no indications that they were even regrouping or out to get Max due to her DNA.
A few weeks have passed since then, and Max had finally settled back into her former life, from her messengering gig to her meals at Logan's. Logan had finally caught up on his Eyes Only cases and was back to uncovering dark truths.
"So I take it you got your job back?" Logan observed as he noticed her sector pass.
"Yep, had no problems with it too. I think Normal's even more scared of me now that he knows I have a whole army of transgenics to back me up," Max informed with a grin.
Logan laughed as well. "And Alec?"
Max rolled her eyes. "He's back there too, and Normal still worships him as his Golden Boy. I can't believe it. You could probably tell him he's an alien from outer space and Alec would still be his hero."
"Well, you did turn Normal – he doesn't think transgenics are monsters anymore. So in his eyes, Alec's just a normal guy."
Max laughed at the thought. "Well, he sure ain't normal in the ring. Everyone knows he's a transgenic. They won't let him in, but I don't think he's really interested anyway. He's growing up."
Logan nodded as he brought the food over to the table. "So, how's everyone else at Jam Pony doing now that transgenics are back?"
Max shrugged. "It's not that different, 'cept maybe a few idiots led by Sketchy want to see some of our cool karate moves. But enough about me. How's the Eyes Only stuff going?"
"Well, I'm about caught up." Logan gestured for her to take a seat and begin eating. "New bad guys popping up everyday. New disappearances, new cases of corruption. The world's still as broken as ever," Logan informed casually.
"Well, if you need any legwork done...I'm open to suggestions. The cat in me is getting a bit fidgety with nothing else to do but deliver packages."
"I thought you liked things normal," Logan stated, trying hard to conceal a grin.
"Normal was when Lydecker was still looking for me. Now I'm just like an ordinary girl roaming the streets of Seattle trying to make an honest living. Something in that just seems abnormal to me."
Logan laughed now. "You've still got the Familiar threat."
"Don't remind me. They haven't surfaced yet though. I'm not concerned."
Logan decided to change the topic. "So an honest living, huh? No more cat burglaries?"
Max smiled innocently. "It's not stealing if it's from the bad guys now, is it?"
"In today's world, everyone's a bad guy to someone."
"Which means everyone's fair game."
Logan sighed and shook his head disappointedly, but he was still smiling, amused. "Well, I'm sure Eyes Only will have something soon enough if you need something to pass time. I got us some champagne. Would you like to do the honors?" he asked, handing her the bottle and cork remover.
"Gladly." Max opened the bottled and slowly poured the champagne out of the bottle for both of them.
"I was hoping we could take a trip this weekend to the cabin," Logan suggested. "To get away from the city, you know?"
"Sure, sounds great."
The two began eating now.
"I managed to get a copy of Titanic. Good pre-pulse stuff is hard to find nowadays."
"Titanic? I heard about it. A movie sounds nice. No urgent Eyes Only stuff?"
"After all that's happened, I'd like us to spend more time together and just live each day as it comes. I mean, you never know if another Coming may arrive and wipe us out."
"Well, there aren't anymore lunatic cults around, so I think we're safe."
"Max...you know what I mean...just, anything can happen. When the pulse hit, no one knew what to do the following day. Millions went broke. It was chaos and –"
"Yeah, yeah. I know." Max interrupted, smiling. "I'd like to spend some more time together too."
Logan's Cabin, Outskirts of Seattle
It was the weekend and the two snuggled together next to the fireplace.
"So I guess this is how things are without the superhero gig," Max stated as she roasted a marshmallow by the fire.
"Relaxing, isn't it?" Logan asked in return.
"Yep," she replied before kissing him gently on the cheek.
Logan used the arm he had wrapped around her to pull her closer to him. "Your marshmallow is getting burnt," he whispered into her ear.
Max removed the marshmallow and took some graham crackers from the pile to make some smores. "So this is the tasty treat campers used to have?" Max inquired as she bit into her treat. Her eyes widened slightly in delight as she finished her bite.
Logan chuckled, watching her reaction. "Tasty, hmm?"
"It's delicious," she answered as she finished the smore she just made. She quickly started another one...or two...or three...
Logan watched in amusement as Max stacked several marshmallows onto the stick. "I'm guessing you didn't have these during your overnight camping trips back in Manticore," Logan observed with a small smile.
"Oh you know good ol' Deck. The smell of chocolate on roasted marshmallows would simply alert the enemy of our location, if not the animals first." Max quipped. "It would not be tactically advantageous."
"Not even to invite the enemy for a midnight snack before going in for the kill?" Logan mused. "Under the cover of good little boy and girl scouts?"
Max thought about it for a moment. "I'll be sure to ask Lydecker that next time I see him," she replied with a small smile. The marshmallows had finished roasting by now, so she was stacking them down on graham crackers to create an incredibly large smore.
"You want to share some of that?" Logan suggested.
"You can burn marshmallows yourself," Max declined with a small smirk. "We should do this more often." She took a large bite into her gigantic smore.
Logan laughed as chocolate covered her face. "Yes, we should. I need to bring my camera next time too."
Max rolled her eyes as she licked the chocolate away. "Next time I won't be making such a big mess of myself," she promised.
"Sure you won't," Logan replied, his eyes stared into hers playfully. "I could help you...clean up," he offered.
"Really?" she asked as she took another bite, with more chocolate covering her lips.
"Mmhmm," Logan pulled her into a kiss.
As Max kissed him back, Logan picked her up and moved them someplace more private.
The following morning, Logan was up already making breakfast when Max entered the kitchen.
"It smells good in here," Max commented.
"Bacon and eggs," Logan informed. "Your favorite."
"It's beautiful outside too," Max declared, peering out the window.
"Just another winter morning in Seattle," Logan commented as he loaded the bacons and eggs onto their plates.
"Hey Logan, not to ruin our breakfast, but how long has that car been parked there?"
Logan came up behind her and took a look as well.
"I don't know. I didn't see them yesterday. It's probably nothing. Let's eat."
Max's pupils dilated as she zoomed in on the car.
"I'm going to check things out first, just to be sure," Max said as she left the house.
Logan sighed and took a seat.
As soon as Max went outside, her hearing picked up the voices within the car.
"You're sure Cale is connected to Eyes Only? I've got him in my sights. He's with his girlfriend. Should we take him in, boss? Sure thing, boss."
Max tapped politely on the car window. "Are you fellas lost?"
The guy in the driver seat rolled down the window. "Actually, we found just what we were looking for," the guy grinned, holding a gun aimed at Max. "Now don't make a scene and you won't die."
Max feigned fear as the other goons in the car came out to surround her.
Logan looked out the window just as they began walking towards the house. So much for getting away in the city. He pulled up a chair next to the window waiting to watch the fight sure to unroll.
"Sorry fellas, but I've got a date to get back to," Max quipped as she yanked the gun out of one of the goons hands and used him as a shield for the bullets the other guys fired as soon as she attacked him. Max leapt into the air as the goons fired a few more shots at where her body was, hitting their own comrades. She landed a kick to the remaining guy's head and he was out cold. Max caught Logan just watching from the window with a smile on his lips. She tossed her hair back and blew him a kiss before coming back into the cabin.
"You may want to get the police to clean that up. They were after Eyes only."
"I assumed as much when they didn't try and kill you on sight," Logan said as he held up his cell phone. "The police will be here shortly."
"Guess that means we gotta jet then, huh?"
Logan sighed, "Guess so. Good things just don't last."
"Some things do," Max corrected as she pulled Logan into a hug. "So you enjoy the show?" she whispered.
"You haven't lost your touch."
"What happened to helping a girl out?" Max asked. "Being the hero and all?"
Logan's lips twitched. "I helped some," he reminded, gesturing to his cell phone. "Besides, I figured a few goons would be easy for you, and you said you were getting a bit fidgety. Didn't think it'd be a good idea to take away your fun."
Max just laughed as she took a seat at the table. "Let's eat first before we get outta here. As easy as it may seem for a genetically engineered girl, a few goons takes up a lot of energy."
Logan took a seat as well before the two started eating. Afterwards, they both cleaned the dishes together, with Logan washing the dishes and Max drying them.
There was just enough time for them to pack their things and leave the cabin before the sirens could be heard in the distance.
"Looks like I'll have to find another cabin," Logan said as they headed back to Seattle. "Maybe I'll buy one under that alias I used to like."
"I'm not going to ask," Max announced, remembering several of his aliases used in the past. She had no idea how people actually believed those were names...
A moment of silence passed between the two of them as each were lost in their own thoughts.
"Max, I can understand if it's kind of sudden, so take some time to think about it if you need, but I was wondering if you'd like to move in with me," Logan proposed, clearly anxious about what he was asking.
Max remained silent for a moment. As much as she valued living in her own place, the commute wouldn't be as tedious if she lived with him. She would miss being with OC, but she would still see her friends at Crash. It's not like she was abandoning her friends or anything, and now OC would have more room available for any friends she may want to invite overnight. Max and Logan have been waiting a long time for their relationship to progress, but in the past, it was never the right time. Now they have all the time in the world. What better time than now?
When Max finally came to a conclusion, she kissed him gently on the cheek and whispered into his ear, "I'd like that."
Logan smiled but kept his eyes on the rode. Things couldn't be any better in either of their lives.
A/N: Well, there's the finish. I hope you all liked it. I felt it was a bit...fragmented, but I dunno. Please please please review and let me know how I did. It is, after all, the last chapter...
Again, the offer still stands - if anyone has any ML challenges, feel free to post them in a review.
Finally, if anyone's interested in reading a Manticore fic (AU, MA), then check out Reins of Leadership. Just had to mention it.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!