Manticore Gathering
Part I


Lydeckers humvee pulled up to a warehouse-type building. Max looked at it through her window. "Home sweet home." Lydecker claimed, strolling closer to
the building.

"Manticore." Max muttered to herself, disgustedly.

Lydecker shouted a few commands into his talkie and a group of soldiers, around Max's age, stormed out.

TAC leader Graves walked over to Lydecker and greeted him, "Welcome back, sir!"

Max stared at the lineup of soldiers. She recognized one. Evan? NO! I thought you got out!

Lydecker started giving instructions, "Number 33 will be joining your group, Graves!"

Evan recognized the number. Max? He began to remember the times he, Zack and Max spent together. Zack had been hinting at an escape for some time.
At the rally point, Zack put Max with Jondi. Evan never saw them again. He always wondered if Max got out. He knew she'd question his recapture.

Evan was snapped back into reality as Graves brought Max over to him, "Number 35! Gen. Lydecker requests that you show Number 33 the ropes here."
Evan nodded and turned leading the way, while Max followed.


Evan and Max entered the cot room. Luckily there was an empty cot next to Evan's. Max moved to sit on the cot and Evan joined her.

"Zack's gonna be real disappointed when he finds out you're back here." Evan spoke breaking the silence. Max nodded in agreement.

"But what about you?" She spoke, "You were with us at the rally point. How'd they get you?"

"Zack hung back to keep them from catching any of us. But I stepped in to let him escape. Someone had to be sacrificed to save you."

The two embraced in a reunion hug, "I missed you, Max."

"So, you've been here the whole time." Then something about Evans attitude clicked in to Max, "How have you managed to keep emotion in you?" Max
questioned him.

Evan pulled back to look at her as he answered, "I've been faking total obedience." Max smiled, Evan continued, "I must be doing a good job. They never
injected me with that serum....like they did with the others here."

Max's smile faded, "Lydecker used it on me." A look of surprise shot across Evan's face. Max spoke to assure him, "It's ok, Evan. I had a seizure not too long
ago and it freed me from his grasp." Evan sighed in relief.

"He'll use it again on you." He paused before continuing, "You were his favorite, Max." He caressed her face, "You should've seen him-after losing you.
Nearly started drinking again. He was a wreck."

Max chuckled and added sarcastically, "Lydecker must be a happy man, to have me back home."


Lydecker was in a meeting with Graves. "Glad to see you kept my office the way I left it." Graves nodded and was about to reply, but was interrupted,
"Let's get down to business, Graves." 

Graves leaned closer and Lydecker added, "I put my Max in your group, but I will personally supervise how you handle her. Understand?" Graves nodded.
Lydecker stands up, "Let's go pay her a visit."


Max heard Lydeckers footsteps, she turned to Evan, whispering, "You do your stunt, I'll do mine." Before Evan could answer, Lydecker and Graves burst in.

Graves spoke, "Have you shown Number 33 the ropes, yet?"

Evan answered, "Still doing it, sir!"

Graves smiled, "Good work, soldier."

Lydecker held out his arms for Max to come into them. He hugged her and caressed her. Evan felt sick watching. Lydecker, still embracing Max, turned to
Graves, "Max, I'd like you to me Graves. He'll be the TAC leader assigned to you."

Graves held out his hand to greet her, but Max just looked at him. She then turned to Lydecker for assurance. Lydecker nodded, "Go ahead, Max." His voice
was soft and compassionate, Evan noticed.

Instead, Max retreated away from Graves, pressing against Lydecker. 

Evan watched, horrified. What are you up to, Max? He wondered.

Lydecker gleamed, not caring about letting his feelings for Max to be shown, he slipped an arm around her waist, whispering in her ear, "Be nice and shake
his hand, Max."

Max finally shook his hand. Lydecker smiled, "Now that wasn't so bad. C'mon, let's head to the mess hall and eat." He'd been massaging Max's stomach
while he spoke. She closed her eyes, leaned back, turned her head to the side and whispered something into Lydeckers ear. He nodded, let go of her,
pulled away and motioned for Graves to follow him.

Once alone, Evan spoke, "What the hell was that about?"

Max turned to him and shrugged, "I did what was necessary."

Evan was angered, "You let him touch you like that?!"

Max sighed, "You said yourself that I was his favorite. Didn't you realize how much of a favorite I am to him?"

Evan glared, "The thought makes me sick." He paused, "What did you whisper to him?"

"You don't wanna know." She turned to walk out, but he grabbed her arm.

"Your still under the Serum!!"

She looked at him, shocked, "WHAT?!"

"C'mon, admit it!!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"The Serum, Max! You're turning into his slave soldier. Just like when we were kids."

She slumped down onto the cot and was silent. She let Evans last comment sink in before answereing, "I have to get out of here."

"No way, Max. He'll notice you're gone!!" Evan sat next to her. "I know the delivery guy real good. With you here distracting Lydecker, I can get out easily."

Evan and Max then formed the plan to get a message to Logan.


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