Dr. Ann Richter arrived at the hospital and headed toward Max's room. She entered and spotted Max at the windowsill
gazing out onto the streets below. The window was open and Max could feel the light breeze.

"Good morning, Max!" Ann exclaimed cheerfully. Max turned her gaze to Ann, but did not speak. Ann pulled up a chair
and sat next to Max. Ann then noticed Max's rock upon the nightstand.

She retrieved it and turned to Max, "Why is this rock so important to you, Max?" She remembered Max pushing that kid
down in the playroom.

Max didn't snatch the rock away, but answered Ann's question, "A gift from my brother."

"You have a brother? Are you two close? Is there any way to contact him or your family?" Ann asked as Max moved
away from the window and onto the bed.

Max immediately shook her head, "No. We are hiding!"

"Who are you hiding from?"

Before Max could answer, she picked up an approaching vehicle. She dashed to the window and spotted Lydeckers
hummer. Luckily Max had changed into sweats. Max grabbed Ann's hand and left the room.

Max found a backway out of the building as Lydecker and company pulled up to the front. Max led Ann around to the
front area and into a nearby forrest. Max paused, keeping low in the forrest, to watch Lydecker.

Max spoke, nodding to the man shouting commands, "From him." Ann followed Max's gaze and she saw Lydecker and all
the soldiers.

Max noticed when Richards van pulled into the hospital parking lot and got stopped by Lydecker. "Not good!" Max turned
to Ann, "You get the family out of here, I'll get his attention."
 
 

Lydecker walked up to the van, commanding some soldiers to check the vehicle. Lydecker began to question Richard on
who he was here for.

Max knew she had to move quickly. She left her hiding spot and crept closer to the scene.

While the soldiers checked the van, Stephanie got scared and began to cry. Lydecker looked at her, then turned to
address Darlene, "Your child should learn control." He stated coldly.

Suddenly, there were gunshots and everyone turned to look in the direction in which they came from.

Max stood over a fallen soldier; she took in a count of how many men Lydecker brought. You're gonna need more men
than that if you want to get me back, she thought.

Lydeckers gaze met hers and he felt elation. "GET HER!" He shouted as Max dashed away.

Meanwhile, in the midst of distraction, Ann jumped into the van. She slammed the door shut and shouted, "Drive!!"
Richard reacted and shifted the van into gear and sped away. "We have to go back to your place." Ann instructed, "Max
will meet us there."
 
 

The chase was on. Max felt the need to get them as far away from the family as she possibly could. She decided to lead
Lydeckers men to the outskirts of Billings, where farmland started until the next city.

She had made the plan before attempting to get Lydeckers attention. Now as soldiers chased after her from on foot and
hummer, with Lydecker following and giving orders, she led them into a forrest area.

More déjà vu for her. Running from Lydecker-escaping. She maintained a clear and focused mind while darting through
trees, leaping over fallen branches and logs, and splashing through streams. She used her enhanced agility and kept a
good distance from Lydecker.
 
 
 
 

Once in the house, Darlene began to ramble, "What's going on here? Who were those men? Why are they after Max?"

Richard did his best to console his wife and Stephanie sat at the kitchen table drinking some juice.

Ann gazed at the family. Looks like this family had trouble right from the start after adopting Max. Ann suddenly realized
what was in her hand; she still had Max's rock. "She'll come back!"

Richard and Darlene both look to Ann. Richard spoke, "How can you be sure about that?"

Ann held up the rock.

"A rock!!" Darlene stated shockingly. "What does a rock have to do with anything?!"

"Richard, do you remember the event in the playroom the other day?"

Richards expression brightened as he remembered. "She showed me when we were in the car....why she had pushed
the other kid."

Ann set the rock on the table and sat down, "She told me that her brother gave this to her."

Stephanie piped in, "Max has a brother? Cool!"

"Ok...then we'll wait for her to come back." Richard stately tiredly.

"Mom, I'm hungry." Stephanie claimed.

"Ok, honey, I'll start dinner. Maybe it'll help to pass the time." Darlene moved toward the cupboards and started dinner.
 
 

Lydecker was getting furious. Max was getting the best of him, yet again. She had remained just out of reach from his
grasp. Just when he thought he had her, she slipped away. He threw his talkie against the dash after hearing TAC team
1 lost sight of her.

"So close, yet so far." He mumbled under his breath.

Suddenly, the driver swerved. Lydecker turned and saw Max in a heated battle with a soldier. The soldier was able to
land a few hits before he was shut down.

Lydecker jumped out of the hummer. Max looked in his direction. He executed a hand signal that threw fear onto her
face. She immediately dashed off again. He noted the direction she took and alerted him men on which way to go. Then,
Lydecker proceeded to jump back into the hummer and soon gave chase to Max.
 
 
 

Nightfall came and still no Max. Darlene was getting worried and began pacing. She held onto Max's rock tightly and
wiped at her tear-stained face.

Richard came down the stairs and saw Darlene. He entered the living room, "Honey, let's get some sleep."

She stopped pacing and glared at him, "How can you be so calm at a time like this!!" Richard didn't respond as she
continued, "She's out there. For all we know that man could have killed her. She's probably dead by now and we've just
sat here!"

The door flew open, saving Richard from replying. Darlene gasped and went over to Max, who stood in the doorway. She
was minorly bruised and cut, but she was fine.

"Max, you're...." Darlene started to speak.

"I'll heal." Max stated and sauntered over to the couch and immediately fell asleep.

"Let's let her rest." Richard said, pulling the covers over Max. Darlene turned off the light and they left the room.
 

~~**++**~~
to be continued