Jump to new as of July 14, 2002...The FAQs
Jump to new as of July 24, 2002
Jump to new as of August 2, 2002
Prologue: Te Diary Entry: Posted on Monday, 8 July 2002, at 7:07 p.m.
"Looking back at what happened that night I realize how lucky we were. I mean, with all the aces Manticore kept under its sleeve I am amazed we pulled it out. Well, most of us. I remember that we were twenty trying to escape, but eight of our brothers and sisters didn't make it... I saw three of them die before even leaving the installations: Ro, Cio and Mel. Ro was the youngest and the most innocent of us. In a way all of us knew it would be hard for her to escape, but she tried nevertheless. She was the bravest, but don't tell Zack about it. He likes to think he is.
As I write this entry of my new diary, I wished to write from the very first moment I started to live. And it was after Manticore, because you can't call Manticore life a real life... It's more like a Hellhole. A horrible Hellhole, by the way. But that's not the point. I am supposed to be writing the story of my life, and Manticore is not part of it. Not anymore.
Anyway, after the escapade we split up. I've always regretted that. Zack told us it was for protection... it was a tactic. For me it was like never leaving Manticore because we were still acting like soldiers. But we followed his orders, as he was the commander but, more than that, he was our big brother. Tinga was the first to part, and then Zane departed too. I remember it was the first time Jondy cried and she was really upset about that. Syl soon followed their lead and so on, till there was only me and good old Zack. He barked something that sounded like a 'See-Ya-later' and stormed out to help the others after ordering me to 'escape and evade'. I seldom wanted to, but I had no choice. I wanted to know about the others, but I couldn't even be sure they were still alive. So I ran... and ran... and ran.
That's all I did that night.
I was terrified, I now know that. But at that time I only knew I had a funny feeling inside my stomach that made it turn upside-down... I didn't know fear at that time. Now I do, unfortunately.
I remember I didn't even look behind my shoulder, because partially I didn't have to. That is because I have special abilities no other X5 has. We all have our personal little tricks. My thing is that I have more feline DNA that the rest of my siblings, which means I have more balance and I can listen, see and smell better that them. I can even recognize a person for his odor at a kilometer. Pretty, isn't it? The thing is that I look more like a cat than them too... Pointed ears, feline movements and a tail... But they cut it out in Manticore with surgery. A pity, really. I liked my tail.
As I was saying, I can detect someone with my ears or my nose, so I was safe for the moment. I had a gun and a good aiming and years of training. And then I... met my dad...
He was a Colonel at that moment, and was partially familiar with Manticore and their experiments. But, when he spotted me on a street of a city I can't remember the name... He felt ashamed of himself. He approached me, noticing my bar code and my... How do I put it? Extravagant appearance? Well, the thing is that he decided to help me, because he realized I wasn't a soldier... I was a scared little kid.
He took me to his family, who asked no questions at first. He nursed my wounds and fed me and, although I am still a little skinny, he really did a good job bringing me back to life.
He asked if I had a name the first time we spoke and I, a little reticent mumbled it...
"Liz... That's your name?" he asked tenderly. I was very confused by that emotion... tenderness, I mean.
"Yes... my brothers and sisters put me that name and I like it" I replied defiantly. He chuckled and stroked my head.
"You are a stubborn little thing... A headstrong girl. Look, I want you to live with me... You have no place to go and I am not returning you to Manticore. So I am going to give you my surname and make you my daughter" he said simply.
"What makes you think I am not going to run away, anyway?" I asked. He shrugged and smiled.
"You have no other place to go" he answered plainly.
And damn, he was right.
So I stayed with Elliot Bennet and became Liz Bennet. I met my supposedly 'older sister' Jane and with her I learned what was gentleness and kindness... She taught me what was to be human, even if I was sixty-percent cat.
With Mary I learned what patience was. To listen to her is to ask for boredom sometimes... But I kind of liked her from the start, mainly because she accepted me without questions.
Lydia and Kitty, on the other hand... Well, they asked father almost everything they could think of... they thought I was weird and aloof and I admit I enjoy taunting them. They will always make fun of me also, but hey... When you know you can beat the hell out of a person you don't pay much attention to there little jokes anyway.
My stepmother? Well, she pretended to like me, but she thinks I am not as good as her girls... She loves to punish me, and I fell sorry for that... I mean, I would have loved to have a mother in her, but I got used to her.
So life went on... And on... And I learned to live. Zack contacted me years after the escapade and told me about the others... well, most of them. They were okay, some of them hiding and evading and dome trying to live a life. I was among the last ones, though Zack didn't like it one bit. Well, what a pity for him but I stayed firm. He told me something about being a sensitive idiot, but I really didn't pay him much attention that time.
I grew, mostly in the library with Father, sometimes helping him with his work, as I knew a lot about computers and he didn't know a thing. What can I say? High Technology was one of my favorite subjects back in Manticore. I was a well-trained hacker and I am still are.
As I grew up I found out several things... About my siblings. I heard about Ben's insanity and the fact that my sister Max was alive. We were extremely close, and still are, because we were created almost simultaneously... You can tell that by our designated numbers. And they used pretty much the same DNA with both of us. That bonded us in a way. So knowing she had made it and that she was okay was one of the happiest news I ever received. But, damn Zack to hell, he didn't want to tell me were she lived.
The next time I saw him he told me Brin had been taken back to Manticore because of an illness, and then he came to tell me Tinga was dead. He was bearer of bad news most of the time... But he also told me that Tinga had had a son... I was an aunt! I couldn't believe that. I heard then that Jace had a kid too, but that was later.
I was there when Manticore's DNA banks were destroyed too... But I didn't get to se Max. I met Logan and we both cried when my sister 'died'. I went home again, because father was worried about me... Did I see Lydecker, are you asking? No... I didn't have the guts to do so. I ran of the place before I had a chance to run into him.
Zack disappeared... Ben died... Max died... Eve died... Brin was brainwashed... They are all gone. I wonder if that dog-boy I met when I was seven survived. I think his name was Joshua. He was a good mutant and helped me the day I had escaped from my cell... The day Eva died, I remember. He had funny way of speaking. I hope he is okay.
But hope is for losers, or so is what people say. I live alone now, but I am planning to contact again my siblings. Jondy and Syl are still out there, I think. Maybe I could get in contact with them. Follow their tracks from Manticore with my skills. Maybe...
Or maybe not. Maybe I am condemned to be a lonely transgenic freak in a big, big world. That sounds sad, doesn't it?
Believe me, it feels worse."
X5-416: Proud Angel FAQs
Crossover with Dark Angel, series of Fox.
Brief Dark Angel Synopsis:
It all started in the Year 2009. In Wyoming there was a secret government agency called 'Manticore' that created transgenic soldiers of all kinds. One type of soldiers they created were the X-series: transgenic soldiers with the appearance of humans, unlike other soldier who looked sometimes like a cross between a human and an animal. They had special abilities because they had animal DNA in them and were sometimes like super humans. Somehow the first series turned out wrong, but little we know about them. The X2 series was locked in the basements of the facility to be studied all their lives and where called by the other soldiers 'nomlies', and were feared.
Finally there was success with the X5 series that resulted into perfect soldier: faster, smarter and more trained that any other common soldier, they each had special abilities of there own (Max, aka X5-452 doesn't need to sleep, for example) and group abilities (they all have agility, night vision, a high mind, a perfect memory and other few trick, because they have cat DNA). They were trained in Manticore to be loyal group based on respect and the superiority of number... They had a Commander Officer, Zack, aka X5-599, a fellow X5, whom they obeyed. But they grew to love each other as brothers and sisters and Zack became a big brother. They named themselves in spite of their designated number (you know, like X5-416, for example). Their designated names had something to do with a barcode they have tattooed on their napes that serves like a label to Manticore technicians. The bar code starts with 33, has 12 digits and the last three are the designated number (in case of Liz her barcode is 332890073416). If you want to know more about the meaning of barcodes go to www.devoted.to/X5, and excellent page about Transgenic Manticore soldiers.
On November of 2009, when they were nine, some X5 escaped from Manticore because they feared they were going to take a fellow X%, Max, because she had some kind of seizures caused by a defective gene that Manticore wanted to investigate. So they escaped, Zack leading them, that night. Twelve of them actually made it and the names of the ones I know that succeed are: Krit, Ben, Max, Zack, Tinga, Brin, Jondy, Syl, Zane, and in my story Liz is one of the escapees too.
Something more about X5?
All the X5 have twins, identical twins that were trained in Washington in another Manticore facility. They are all in there early twenties because the series is settled in 2021.
Four of them (Zack, Max, Syl and Krit) destroyed Manticore's laboratory in order to prevent more soldiers to be created. In my story Liz joins the group that night.
What became of Manticore?
Max, Dark Angel's protagonist, was captured once and when she escaped she burnt down the whole thing (Yeah, pretty extreme) and all the transgenics got free and escaped. People heard rumors about them and fear them, almost to the point of hating them, though it isn't officially proclaimed that they exist in the first place.
Who is Hunting Manticore related people and transgenic down?
It is an unknown organization whose sole purpose is to cover the tracks of Manticore so nobody could ever probe that it existed. That means mostly killing all the doctors, technicians, militars and, in resume, all the Manticore staff and, of course the transgenics. They think they ar antinatural and shouldn't exist. They believe that perfection is achieved through cautious breeding, choosing the best male and female specimens. They are stronger and faster than average humans because they are the 'best of humankind'. But transgenics are faster, smarter and better than them and they hate that. One agent from this so called Clan is Ames White, who posses as a FBI agent most of the time.
What ever happened to Tinga?
She died in the hands of Renfro, a Manticore military that became Head of Manticore after Lydecker 'quitted' and died when Max took down Wyoming Manticore in 2021. She had a son that escaped because he was transgenic too... a new generation of X5.
And Brin?
She was brainwashed after being captured by Lydecker, the Head of Manticore, and fought against her brothers and sisters, believing them to be traitors. She disappeared after the
And What of Zack?
When Max was shot and capture by Manticore personal she was about to die so Zack shoot himself in order to gave her his heart, because she needed and X5 heart. But they re-build him with high technology and made him a killer that he saw the person that he was supposed to kill he went all berserk... Poor fellow, really. Maybe I'll make him as good as he was.
Who is Alec and what happened to Ben?
Alec is Ben's twin that lived in Washington's Manticore facilities. He is handsome and has one Hell of an attitude... He likes girls, easy jobs, has no problem with stealing, doesn't have any kind of respect or loyalty... Well, he likes to appear that way but he really is as good as his twin Ben, who escaped that night in 2009 from Manticore. He then went crazy and started killing people for a religious ritual. When he was hurt and Manticore soldiers were about to catch him he asked his sister Max to kill him... which she did...
What about the rest of the X5?
They all escaped from Manticore the day it was burnt down. Some were killed by Ames white and his group and some started living normal lives, as the other transgenics.
Who the Hell is Logan Cale?
He is a revolutionary journalist known as 'Eyes Only'. His family is rich so he doesn't have to worry about money and plus his connections allow him to help Max and the transgenics getting them credentials, papers and passes to leave the country. He was on a wheelchair but now, with the help of some kind of invention he has in his legs, he can walk. He loves Max and in the show there is a problem that keeps them from getting together. In my story that problem doesn't even exist.
And Who is Joshua?
He is the first transgenic Manticore ever created so he doesn't have a barcode, because he is special and unique, or so he says. He is a dog-boy, really naïve and good-natured (he and Bingley will get along well in my story, that's for sure). He lives in a house that he says is from the founder of Manticore, a guy name Sandeman whom he calls 'Father'. There is a mystery going on around that guy.
Joshua had an identical twin called Isaac but he was crazy so he had to kill him before he killed Max in an episode.
Where and when the series is settled?
The series is settle in the future, 20021. A digital bomb exploded some years before erasing all the money american's had in the computer, and blowing every computer system of the USA, that became a broken ex-superpower filled with corruption and crime, so it's called the Era of the Depression.
How does Liz fit in the picture?
Liz, my character has more cat DNA than any of her brothers and sisters. Her barcode is 332890073416, very similar to Max's, Zane's and Tinga's barcode. She used to look even more like a cat, but they cut off her tail back in Manticore. She has dark-red hair and night-blue eyes, love to wear black (every good transgenic does). She is though, stubborn and has a unique sense of humor. She was rescued from the street by Colonel Elliot Bennet, who became her father. She resents Lydecker but admires him at the same time. She likes three things: her classic Harley Davidson 'Black Knight', playing with any kind of machine or computer and singing.
The rest of the characters will be developed as the story goes on. There will be a Wickham, a Caroline Bingley (always dressed in shocking orange), a Jane, a Lydia, etc... Even a Mr. Collins! Hope you like my story and excuse me if the FAQs are too much or too long. I really tried to keep it simple.
Chapter One ~ The Reencounter
Max hummed happily as she controlled the pasta she was preparing for Logan. Since they had gotten married (The virus thing she had just disappeared thanks to a little help from Lydecker, follow me on this one) the sun shone brighter that before and everything was... merrier. Logan at first had been a little scared about that 'The world is a great place' attitude she had assumed, but he got used to.
"Max, why are you home so early? Something happened at work?" asked Logan as he stepped into the apartment. The X5 smiled mysteriously and replied cryptically:
"You could say that. Come on, I made you pasta... I have something to tell you, dear" she urged him to sit down, served him his meal and, as he was zipping some water, she dropped the bomb:
"Logan... I'm three months pregnant" (Who saw that coming?). Logan choked and spitted the water he was drinking, his eyes wide.
"Logan, are you okay?" Max asked, worried. Logan half-smiled, the meaning of the revelation finally sinking into his brain.
"You mean you are... we are...?" he stuttered, a big smile now on his face. He picked Max up and spun her around. That little celebration was ended when the phone rang.
"Damn" Logan cursed aloud as he picked up the receiver. His tone became happy again when he recognized who was calling.
"Darcy? My Goodness, it's been a while! A very long while!" he joked lightly and Fitzwilliam Darcy chuckled slightly. Logan sensed immediately that something was very wrong... Darcy seemed a little anxious.
"What's wrong, man?" he asked seriously. Darcy sighed tiredly and began to explain:
"A Few months ago my company was offered a good and supposedly legit deal with a government apartment. I discovered though some rather... secret and illegal things going around there after three months so I demanded to break the contract. They refused and, when they found out all I knew... they tried to kill me... I fled with Georgi to England but I need to go back to The United States to control my business... And I thought your wife could do me the favor of guarding me and Georgi for a while... until they cool down or I gather enough information to put them in jail for good. Look, Logan, I'm scared... Georgi is terrified. I need your help"
Eyes Only could feel the stress his friend was under But Max couldn't fight while she was pregnant... he wouldn't allow it. On the other hand... maybe Max could summon some help. Alec maybe... or someone. Anyone.
"Okay, Darcy, I think I can arrange what you asked me. Just tell me when you are planning on returning... And give me some time to put a few things together. You are asking one big favor, boy" he answered. Darcy smiled at the kindness of his friend.
"Of course, Logan... and thank you. I can give you two or three months, as I have some business in England too that could use my abilities for a little while. Is that time enough for you?"
"Perfect, Darcy. And I'm sorry... about your problem, I mean... I wish I could help you more... Anyway, send my greetings to little Georgi, okay? Good. Call me in a week and I will give you a date for you to return. And keep in touch, okay? I'm here to help you, old pal"
With that he hanged the phone with a sigh. Max put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently.
"A friend in trouble?" she asked quietly. Logan nodded.
"Darcy... You remember him? He was at the wedding..."
Max's mind worked fast and recalled the image of a man with dark curls and chocolate eyes... Tall, serious but with a soft smile and an easy manner when he felt in confidence... And the image of a little, sixteen-year old girl also popped in her head.
"Is he okay? And what about her sister?" she asked quickly. Logan assured her that they were both well, but that they needed someone to protect them.
"But you are pregnant, and you saw how your sister Jace was so affected while she was waiting too... So you are out of the question... But I thought you could call one of your siblings. The job surely will be a paid one. I don't know, maybe Alec will like to do it"
Max frowned and shook he head.
"Alec around a millionaire, sixteen-year-old sweet little girl? I don't think it would be a good idea..." she mumbled "Syl is too cranky with no-transgenic persons... I don't know were Jondy is..." she started numerating when Logan remembered something.
"How about that X5 that looked a little like you? The one with stunning eyes. I liked her a lot when I met her... the night you were captured... I think her name was Liz or something like that" he exclaimed. Max looked at him wide-eyed.
"Liz... Liz is alive? She made it? Zack... told me... she..." she muttered, confused. Then she snapped out of it and looked hopeful at her husband.
"You are positively sure you saw a transgenic girl called Liz? No mistakes?"
"Max... I am sure I met your sister Liz. She even gave me her telephone to contact her if I needed help. She was very kind when I was in shock thinking you were dead... OH my G*d! Now that I think about it she still thinks you dead!"
Logan gave his wife the piece of paper were a telephone was written. The letter was very elegant yet firm.
"That's my Liz" she muttered, heading to the phone. She dialed with incredible speed and held her breath as a female voice answered on the other side of the line.
"Hello... Who am I speaking to?" The tone was defensive, always on alert... It definitely belonged to a soldier. And yet it was melodious... It was her!
"Liz? Are you really Liz?" Max asked, still not believing it.
"That voice... I know you... Wait a minute! Max! Max! You are my sister Max!" she screamed, suddenly "But... you are dead!" she added then. Max chuckled.
"Do I sound dead to you, Liz? Come on, it's not that easy to kill an X5" she joked lightly. On the other side of the line Liz smiled broadly.
"It is really you! Damn you girl, you are one lucky transgenic! Maybe that feline DNA granted you nine lives! I... I can't believe it..." she began stuttering and passing restlessly through her little apartment, while Max filled her with all the details about Manticore.
"So it's gone for good?" Liz gasped... The place where she had lived all her life didn't exist anymore... "And all the transgenics are free? The... the nomlies too?" she shuddered involuntary... she felt as she had been transported years back to Manticore... they, the nomlies, were in caged, gazing at them with mad eyes... She got scared and Lydecker glanced sharply at her and commanded:
"Keep moving soldier. No one ordered you to stop"
She snapped out of her trance when she heard Max almost yelling.
"Anyway, girl, I want to see you. It's been... well, a long time. Can you get your ass here to Seattle quickly? Maybe move in? You will like the city... and, besides, every transgenic with class lives here" she was saying. Liz sighed.
"Max, you know how awfully difficult is to find a job these days... I have one here and I don't want to risk it... I don't think I could move there" she replied with yet another sigh. Max smiled at the other end of the line.
"It's all arranged, girl. I have the perfect job for you... A bodyguard job. Are you up to it?" the X5 commented nonchalantly.
"Are you daring me? Well, little miss, you got yourself a deal. I'm heading there as soon as I settle my things here and pack, okay? And please, don't die this time. I really want to see you but, every time we are near, you are near death too"
Max chuckled at the display of black humor of her sister.
"Okay, girl. I'll stay alive. Boy scout promise" she lifted a hand as if she was making an oath and chuckled again, heartily.
"Remember. I love you, Max. See you soon..."
The X5 noticed the muffled sound of sobbing at the other side of the phone and smiled sweetly.
"Okay, just hurry"
She hanged the phone after those words.
"You are going to Seattle?" Elliot Bennet said gently, looking at his favorite daughter with a calm gaze. She nodded.
"Family ties... You understand?" she asked quietly, not meeting his gaze. He smiled and laughed a little.
"Of course, Liz, of course I understand. They are you brother and sisters... they are your family, as well as I and Jane are too. Besides, Jane got a job near Seattle too so it would be perfect. And I will still be able to write to you and phone every day. Is not as if you are going away for good" he answered "Cheer up, my lass. You are going to be reunited with your sister, that's not a bad thing... Though I am sure that Mrs. Bennet's nerves are going to suffer a little. You know, she loves to make a fuss over everything"
Liz nodded, smiling this time, and hugged her father tight.
"Thank you... for everything. I owe you my life. If you ever need me, just call me. I'll do the same" she said suddenly, meeting his eyes this time.
"I will, Liz... I will..."
The air was chilly. It was all she remembered. Then, she saw her, so radiant and full of life...
"My Goodness, Max!" Liz greeted, quickly jumping from her motorcycle and embracing her sister. Then she looked at her (and her slightly rounded stomach) and gaped.
"My, my! You are so... so... pregnant!" she exclaimed, smiling "I am about to be an aunt again! Why is it that no one tells me these things?"
Max smiled as Logan hugged her from the back.
"Well, the thing is that we wanted you to be the godmother of my future child, and we wanted to ask you in person" the X5 said slowly. Her cat-sister smiled even wider and looked as if she was going to jump from the emotion.
"We have lots of things to discuss, Max. We better get inside the house you told me you found for me. Come on, I have heavy package and my cat on a bag"
As in cue, a black furred little thing inside a bag full of holes meowed, claiming the attention of its owner. Liz followed Max inside a grey, dull building. Inside there was wreckage everywhere, the walls were peeled and with huge holes that allowed you to see the pipes of the pluming.
"Charming" Liz commented with a smirk. Max shrugged and led her to the number thirteen, at the top of the building. It was a whole floor, very spacious, without furniture, electricity or heaters. The windows were without glasses also and it was as chilly there as it was outside. But, strangely, Liz seemed to like the place.
"I could install all my computers here! It would be perfect! And Plus, I could remodel the whole thing! Thanks Max, really"
When everything was unpacked the two X5 finally had their talk. The talked about their escapes, their lives as kids and their jobs, hobbies and preferences.
Logan observed them at a distance to give them privacy. They seemed so child-like at that minute, all smiling and laughing, teasing each other that he could barely believe they were genetically engineered killing machines. But his reveries were interrupted by the ring of his cell-phone.
"Logan Cale" he answered automatically. The husky, British-accented voice of Fitzwilliam Darcy answered.
"Logan? How are you?" he sounded smooth and totally at ease but, meters away, Liz's cat-like ears shot up.
"Trouble" she whispered to herself as she walked over to Logan.
"You are here, Darcy? Already? I thought that you would come next week" he was saying. But as Liz came closer to the auricular she could hear a girl crying and a man shouting insults. Other said 'Come on, pretty boy, finish your call and get over here'. And she could hear the faint sound of a gun being loaded. Her wyes widened.
"He is in trouble. He and a little girl" she whispered when Logan cut the communication. He looked at Max with concern.
"We have to go there. Now" she said firmly but her sister shook her head immediately and a dangerous look appeared in her eyes.
"You are not going. For Manticore's sake, you are pregnant! There is no way I am letting you near any danger, little sis"
"But... but..." Max protested weakly. Liz hoped on her Harley Davidson 'Black Knight' and started the engine. She smiled at her sister and accelerated at full speed, shouting:
"Don't let her get their till half an hour, Logan" The mentioned man, that had secretly gave the girl a paper with the direction, smiled at his wife apologetically.
"She's got a point, Max" he defended himself, shuddering a little when he noticed the look she was giving him.
Lucky for him, looks didn't kill... yet.
Chapter Two ~ Surprises, Nasty Surprises
The house was impressive, much like the ones you expect to see in old paints of British's manors or in Britain itself. There was no place for that kind of building in a broken ex-superpower. There was a long way from the main gates to the manor, filled with rosebushes and citric trees.
"A woman's touch" Liz whispered amused, yet her concentration was on the house itself. The night was awfully quiet. Too quiet. She could pick up with her nose the smell of hound dogs, maybe two or three and a great number of horses so... why were all so silent? It didn't make sense. Animals were noisy at any time of the day and even the faintest sound could be picked up by her cat-like ears. But not even a bark was heard... Strange.
She hided her motorcycle a few meters away from the entrance, and made no sound as she tiptoed her way to what seemed to be the kitchen's door. With a pin of her hair and a silent thank for all those training years back in Manticore Liz entered in a cozy yet huge kitchen. No one was there and everything was... dark.
"My kind of color" she whispered to herself yet again while she walked in complete silence to the main hall. There was a big staircase there, various marble busts and statues and several paints.
"Classy" was Liz's comment. Her ears caught the sound of struggling and she followed it till she found herself in front of a cherry wood door. There was light in the room, unlike the rest of the house. She stood there, one of her ears plastered against the wood and heard the conversation.
"You are not going to live to see the light of a new day, boy, so why don't you give me what I am asking for?" taunted a slurry, slightly drunken voice. A British, rich baritone voice Liz recognized as Mr. Darcy's voice, replied, full of hatred:
"For the memory of my father, never!"
'Strong words and irresistible accent!' screamed Liz's mind. Meanwhile, the conversation was still going:
"Come on, If you don't do it for your sake then do it for that pretty girl" the slurry voice said.
"Stay the Hell away from my sister!" shouted Darcy. A high-pitched woman's voice was heard, and Liz's ears had never suffered that much. A tenor, warm voice but filled with fear stammered something and a girl sobbed.
"That's my cue to kick in" she mused aloud as she opened wide the oak door and stepped in, smiling.
"Is this a private party or can anyone enter?" she asked sweetly, removing her dark glasses with one swift movement. She caught a glimpse of a tall, dark haired man, ginger-haired little girl, a blurry vision of orange and a sandy blonde-haired man before focusing on what she labeled as 'bad gang'. They were eight, a pretty number; all dressed in black and disheveled. One of them was holding a half-empty wine bottle and another was smoking a cigarette. He was the one who eyed Liz from head to toe and smiled lustily.
"Hey there, babe, as much as I would like to get to know you better this is neither the time nor the place. Come here and, if you don't resist, I promise to be gentle" he intended to grab her arm but instead she caught him by the throat and pinned him against a wall.
"I so hate men who believe women to be weak and humble little things" she told him before punching him square in the stomach. The guy fell to the floor, unconscious. Just then another tried to sneak up on her back but she jumped and landed behind them.
"Don't even think about it" she whispered before kicking them to the floor. She knocked down two other fellows, all of them with guns, in her way to the little ginger-haired girl, who was being dragged by another 'bad fellow'.
"I hate to see girls cry... And I hate more people that make girls cry" she whispered harshly, grabbing the man by the neck. "Who do you work for, anyway? A chauvinist pig, maybe?" The man mumbled something coughing and Liz titled her head.
"What was that? I can't quite understand you"
The ginger-haired girl took pity in the now blue-faced fellow and whispered:
"He can't speak unless you release him, I think" with a timid little voice. Liz smiled to herself and dropped the guy.
"You are absolutely right. I don't know what I was thinking. Thanks" she grinned at the girl, who smiled a little. Then she approached the guy and showed him a shiny, hunter knife.
"I have had this little toy since I was three years all. We are excellent partners and our specialty is to get information from people with very painful methods. Do you really want to test my patience?" she asked with a taunting voice.
"I won't tell... Cause if I do, if I tell something to a person like you... they will kill me... Your are one of them, aren't you? One of the creatures they despise" she leaned closer as he whispered the final words "A transgenic"
She looked at him with surprise as he fainted. A transgenic... was there anyone against Manticore's transgenics...? Yes, she had heard something about doctors and lab technicians being haunted down. So, why was Mr. Darcy being haunted down? He wasn't a Manticore employee.... Right?
She realized everyone was watching her and finally locked eyes with a dark-haired, tall man in his late twenties. He was half scared and half determined to protect the people in the room from her. She was sure he was Fitzwilliam Darcy. Next to him were the sandy-blonde guy and the... gigantic pumpkin? No! It was a woman dressed in the most horrible shade of electric orange! (Sorry, I simply had to make fun of Caroline Bingley).
Fitzwilliam Darcy embraced her sister, the little girl and looked at Liz with a stone gaze. Liz took a step forward and raised her hands.
"I am not going to harm you... I am... I am Max's sister... Logan's sister-in-law" she explained with a soft voice, but he still wouldn't let his guard down.
"Why should I believe you?" he told her plainly, his tone as cold as the Artic.
Then a voice she knew all-too-well, a voice she had been trying to forget since her days at Manticore, echoed in the room.
"She is telling the truth, Darce... she is one of my kids"
And out of the shadows, near Fitzwilliam, materialized the tall, imposing figure of Colonel Donald Michael Lydecker. And Liz thought four a couple of minutes that the world was going crazy.
Chapter Two ~ Surprises, Nasty Surprises
The house was impressive, much like the ones you expect to see in old paints of British's manors or in Britain itself. There was no place for that kind of building in a broken ex-superpower. There was a long way from the main gates to the manor, filled with rosebushes and citric trees.
"A woman's touch" Liz whispered amused, yet her concentration was on the house itself. The night was awfully quiet. Too quiet. She could pick up with her nose the smell of hound dogs, maybe two or three and a great number of horses so... why were all so silent? It didn't make sense. Animals were noisy at any time of the day and even the faintest sound could be picked up by her cat-like ears. But not even a bark was heard... Strange.
She hided her motorcycle a few meters away from the entrance, and made no sound as she tiptoed her way to what seemed to be the kitchen's door. With a pin of her hair and a silent thank for all those training years back in Manticore Liz entered in a cozy yet huge kitchen. No one was there and everything was... dark.
"My kind of color" she whispered to herself yet again while she walked in complete silence to the main hall. There was a big staircase there, various marble busts and statues and several paints.
"Classy" was Liz's comment. Her ears caught the sound of struggling and she followed it till she found herself in front of a cherry wood door. There was light in the room, unlike the rest of the house. She stood there, one of her ears plastered against the wood and heard the conversation.
"You are not going to live to see the light of a new day, boy, so why don't you give me what I am asking for?" taunted a slurry, slightly drunken voice. A British, rich baritone voice Liz recognized as Mr. Darcy's voice, replied, full of hatred:
"For the memory of my father, never!"
'Strong words and irresistible accent!' screamed Liz's mind. Meanwhile, the conversation was still going:
"Come on, If you don't do it for your sake then do it for that pretty girl" the slurry voice said.
"Stay the Hell away from my sister!" shouted Darcy. A high-pitched woman's voice was heard, and Liz's ears had never suffered that much. A tenor, warm voice but filled with fear stammered something and a girl sobbed.
"That's my cue to kick in" she mused aloud as she opened wide the oak door and stepped in, smiling.
"Is this a private party or can anyone enter?" she asked sweetly, removing her dark glasses with one swift movement. She caught a glimpse of a tall, dark haired man, ginger-haired little girl, a blurry vision of orange and a sandy blonde-haired man before focusing on what she labeled as 'bad gang'. They were eight, a pretty number; all dressed in black and disheveled. One of them was holding a half-empty wine bottle and another was smoking a cigarette. He was the one who eyed Liz from head to toe and smiled lustily.
"Hey there, babe, as much as I would like to get to know you better this is neither the time nor the place. Come here and, if you don't resist, I promise to be gentle" he intended to grab her arm but instead she caught him by the throat and pinned him against a wall.
"I so hate men who believe women to be weak and humble little things" she told him before punching him square in the stomach. The guy fell to the floor, unconscious. Just then another tried to sneak up on her back but she jumped and landed behind them.
"Don't even think about it" she whispered before kicking them to the floor. She knocked down two other fellows, all of them with guns, in her way to the little ginger-haired girl, who was being dragged by another 'bad fellow'.
"I hate to see girls cry... And I hate more people that make girls cry" she whispered harshly, grabbing the man by the neck. "Who do you work for, anyway? A chauvinist pig, maybe?" The man mumbled something coughing and Liz titled her head.
"What was that? I can't quite understand you"
The ginger-haired girl took pity in the now blue-faced fellow and whispered:
"He can't speak unless you release him, I think" with a timid little voice. Liz smiled to herself and dropped the guy.
"You are absolutely right. I don't know what I was thinking. Thanks" she grinned at the girl, who smiled a little. Then she approached the guy and showed him a shiny, hunter knife.
"I have had this little toy since I was three years all. We are excellent partners and our specialty is to get information from people with very painful methods. Do you really want to test my patience?" she asked with a taunting voice.
"I won't tell... Cause if I do, if I tell something to a person like you... they will kill me... Your are one of them, aren't you? One of the creatures they despise" she leaned closer as he whispered the final words "A transgenic"
She looked at him with surprise as he fainted. A transgenic... was there anyone against Manticore's transgenics...? Yes, she had heard something about doctors and lab technicians being haunted down. So, why was Mr. Darcy being haunted down? He wasn't a Manticore employee.... Right?
She realized everyone was watching her and finally locked eyes with a dark-haired, tall man in his late twenties. He was half scared and half determined to protect the people in the room from her. She was sure he was Fitzwilliam Darcy. Next to him were the sandy-blonde guy and the... gigantic pumpkin? No! It was a woman dressed in the most horrible shade of electric orange! (Sorry, I simply had to make fun of Caroline Bingley).
Fitzwilliam Darcy embraced her sister, the little girl and looked at Liz with a stone gaze. Liz took a step forward and raised her hands.
"I am not going to harm you... I am... I am Max's sister... Logan's sister-in-law" she explained with a soft voice, but he still wouldn't let his guard down.
"Why should I believe you?" he told her plainly, his tone as cold as the Artic.
Then a voice she knew all-too-well, a voice she had been trying to forget since her days at Manticore, echoed in the room.
"She is telling the truth, Darce... she is one of my kids"
And out of the shadows, near Fitzwilliam, materialized the tall, imposing figure of Colonel Donald Michael Lydecker. And Liz thought four a couple of minutes that the world was going crazy.