DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters; they are the brilliant
creation and property of James Cameron, FOX etc. I do own Faith and some
minor characters, but you know the rest.
SPOILERS: Takes place after Freak Nation - the imaginary season 3.
Chapter One:
Max had been gone nearly a month. Alec took in a deep breath and stood up, the view from the Space Needle had once been vast and beautiful, but now it reminded him how unwelcome he was in the world below. Being here helped him think though and clearing his head was definitely what he needed to do. Far below, Alec could see Terminal City and the Freak Nation flag, hoisted high into the air. He dusted off his pants and left, one final look at the city over his shoulder.
Sneaking back into Terminal City had gotten easier. The transgenics had been living there for roughly three to four months and the Government had backed off somewhat in what had been a seemingly relentless campaign against them. Whilst still guarded quite tightly (or what was considered tight to the Government, but a joke to the residents inside), the tanks were gone and the protestors had retired, most giving up the cause. When the area was heavily guarded, the transgenics moved in and out via a system of tunnels in the underground sewers. Tonight however, there were only four guards circling the perimeter. Alec skulked around in the bushes before scaling a wall in a single bound and entered the city through a well concealed hole in the fence - one of many.
Alec absent-mindedly pulled at his blonde hair, now short courtesy of a new transgenic Faith, as he made his way through the streets of Terminal City. He didn't need to hide his barcode anymore and he definitely preferred this style. He was leaning towards Faith also, though initially he hadn't made the best of impressions.
Flashback: "When Australian Mantecore closed down, I was on a mission. I returned having completed my objective, only to find nothing - not a trace of it. So I fled the country, came to America. First Chicago, in search of...and I ended up here. Seattle." Alec looked the girl up and down. She had long brown hair, tanned skin, very white teeth and she was tall - 5'8 maybe. But best of all were those eyes, a sparkling forest green - they seemed to look straight into her soul and hold the answers to all of life's questions. She smiled at him and swept her hair into a high ponytail. Alec was captivated, entranced by this simple sight, yet his breath caught in his throat and he sprung up and grabbed her in a chokehold. Startled, she hit him square in the face and sent a swift kick to his stomach. Faster than any transgenic he had ever seen, she blurred and tripped him and Alec was sprawled out on the floor. He sprung up and punched her, blocking her attacks, though barely. She gritted her teeth and hissed in a thick Australian accent, "What are you doing?" "Nice try. You almost had me fooled. So what are you doing here? White send you? Guess he knew I was a sucker for a pretty face. Well he obviously didn't put much effort in his plan!", Alec replied icily and slammed the beautiful girl to the ground. He grabbed his gun and pointed it at her head.
"Alec. Don't!",
Faith pleaded, trembling as she realised she wouldn't be able to get out of this situation,
"Why are you attacking me?"
It came out as a whisper. Anyone else wouldn't have heard the cry, but the X-5 did easily and slowly replied, "Blank neck. No barcode you sick bitch. I should kill your cult worshipping ass." Her green eyes widened as she slowly reached for the thick leather cuff on her right wrist. Unsnapping it, it fell to the floor, revealing her barcode.
Alec chuckled to himself as he remembered how speechless he had been; while Faith had gone on to explain life at Mantecore in Australia. At least she hadn't held it against him, he had helped her up and apologised, but she just assured him it was good to see an alert commanding officer watching his back. Her green eyes had met his and they locked into place.
Flashback: *He's got beautiful eyes* Faith thought as she stared deep into them, unable to move, *So familiar.* Then I had hit her. She placed a cool hand on his warm cheek and stepped towards him, whispering,
"Ben?"
Alec leaned into the touch, before snapping to attention and shook his head at the dazed girl, "Alec. I'm Ben's twin. He was 493. I'm 494." She had nodded dispiritedly and slumped into a nearby chair,
"Where is he?"
Flashback: "We met at your Mantecore in '08. I was sent there for 6 months to learn different training skills. It felt so strange and cold; I was only five years old and desperately homesick. I couldn't show my weakness though - I would have been punished." Alec nodded his comprehension, before gesturing for her to continue. "I was placed in a unit of X5's. I wasn't to elucidate who I was, just observe the way they interacted and behaved. Both on and off the battlefield. Ben, X5-493, befriended me, named me. He told me Faith was the most important element of his life and he would like to name me that. He told me that looking at me gave him as much hope as the blue lady. I never saw him again after the six months. After I left Australia, I had heard he had escaped along with others from his unit; and that he was living in Chicago. The pulse made it impossible to find him or any traces of him. I ended up here."
Chapter One:
Max had been gone nearly a month. Alec took in a deep breath and stood up, the view from the Space Needle had once been vast and beautiful, but now it reminded him how unwelcome he was in the world below. Being here helped him think though and clearing his head was definitely what he needed to do. Far below, Alec could see Terminal City and the Freak Nation flag, hoisted high into the air. He dusted off his pants and left, one final look at the city over his shoulder.
Sneaking back into Terminal City had gotten easier. The transgenics had been living there for roughly three to four months and the Government had backed off somewhat in what had been a seemingly relentless campaign against them. Whilst still guarded quite tightly (or what was considered tight to the Government, but a joke to the residents inside), the tanks were gone and the protestors had retired, most giving up the cause. When the area was heavily guarded, the transgenics moved in and out via a system of tunnels in the underground sewers. Tonight however, there were only four guards circling the perimeter. Alec skulked around in the bushes before scaling a wall in a single bound and entered the city through a well concealed hole in the fence - one of many.
Alec absent-mindedly pulled at his blonde hair, now short courtesy of a new transgenic Faith, as he made his way through the streets of Terminal City. He didn't need to hide his barcode anymore and he definitely preferred this style. He was leaning towards Faith also, though initially he hadn't made the best of impressions.
Flashback: "When Australian Mantecore closed down, I was on a mission. I returned having completed my objective, only to find nothing - not a trace of it. So I fled the country, came to America. First Chicago, in search of...and I ended up here. Seattle." Alec looked the girl up and down. She had long brown hair, tanned skin, very white teeth and she was tall - 5'8 maybe. But best of all were those eyes, a sparkling forest green - they seemed to look straight into her soul and hold the answers to all of life's questions. She smiled at him and swept her hair into a high ponytail. Alec was captivated, entranced by this simple sight, yet his breath caught in his throat and he sprung up and grabbed her in a chokehold. Startled, she hit him square in the face and sent a swift kick to his stomach. Faster than any transgenic he had ever seen, she blurred and tripped him and Alec was sprawled out on the floor. He sprung up and punched her, blocking her attacks, though barely. She gritted her teeth and hissed in a thick Australian accent, "What are you doing?" "Nice try. You almost had me fooled. So what are you doing here? White send you? Guess he knew I was a sucker for a pretty face. Well he obviously didn't put much effort in his plan!", Alec replied icily and slammed the beautiful girl to the ground. He grabbed his gun and pointed it at her head.
"Alec. Don't!",
Faith pleaded, trembling as she realised she wouldn't be able to get out of this situation,
"Why are you attacking me?"
It came out as a whisper. Anyone else wouldn't have heard the cry, but the X-5 did easily and slowly replied, "Blank neck. No barcode you sick bitch. I should kill your cult worshipping ass." Her green eyes widened as she slowly reached for the thick leather cuff on her right wrist. Unsnapping it, it fell to the floor, revealing her barcode.
Alec chuckled to himself as he remembered how speechless he had been; while Faith had gone on to explain life at Mantecore in Australia. At least she hadn't held it against him, he had helped her up and apologised, but she just assured him it was good to see an alert commanding officer watching his back. Her green eyes had met his and they locked into place.
Flashback: *He's got beautiful eyes* Faith thought as she stared deep into them, unable to move, *So familiar.* Then I had hit her. She placed a cool hand on his warm cheek and stepped towards him, whispering,
"Ben?"
Alec leaned into the touch, before snapping to attention and shook his head at the dazed girl, "Alec. I'm Ben's twin. He was 493. I'm 494." She had nodded dispiritedly and slumped into a nearby chair,
"Where is he?"
Flashback: "We met at your Mantecore in '08. I was sent there for 6 months to learn different training skills. It felt so strange and cold; I was only five years old and desperately homesick. I couldn't show my weakness though - I would have been punished." Alec nodded his comprehension, before gesturing for her to continue. "I was placed in a unit of X5's. I wasn't to elucidate who I was, just observe the way they interacted and behaved. Both on and off the battlefield. Ben, X5-493, befriended me, named me. He told me Faith was the most important element of his life and he would like to name me that. He told me that looking at me gave him as much hope as the blue lady. I never saw him again after the six months. After I left Australia, I had heard he had escaped along with others from his unit; and that he was living in Chicago. The pulse made it impossible to find him or any traces of him. I ended up here."