I'll start off with sorry for taking so long, I wanted to get a lot pre-written that way all it would need was editing, so here's the first for the second – fourth, however this will go, DA's fourth season and my second stint to the series. You know what I mean, either way its continued from 'into the light'.
Now mind you updates won't be as often as id like but it WILL BE UPDATED! You have my word! So don't loose faith, and please I promise not to abandon as long as you don't! but all in all please, read & review!
Season 4. ep.1
Things were going so fast. So much blood seeping out from beneath the fabric I had placed over the Mayor. It seemed as if the fabric was actually drawing more blood out, acting as a sponge, instead of doing its initial job of staunching. Stupid fucking fabric…I forced myself to remain calm. Thankfully, my transgenic mind loaded everything into its proper place so I could start directing orders within seconds.
"Alec, go see how far away the ambulance is! You two…!" I called out to two of the Mayor's security detail. They quickly responded, thoughts of taking orders from a transgenic far from their heads. I started with the taller one first. "I need you to give me your suit jacket. This piece I have on him isn't doing its job. We need to stop this bleeding! You!"
I motioned to the other one as his colleague took off his black suited business jacket, "Use whatever contacts you have-I don't care-and find out who could have made this shot that's in Seattle. This was no anti-drunk-ass looking to be on a crusade." Needless to say, they all started to get to work as I was able to let the Mayor go for a few brief moments. Gathering myself up just a little bit more, I pulled out my own cell and dialed Cece's number.
She answered on the first ring with no greeting, just demanding, "Max what the HELL is going on out there? Are you both okay?" I had no chance of getting a word in till she stopped her rant, it had me subconsciously raising a brow, "We just saw the news reports. Dix is trying to find footage of where the shot came from with the hover drones but-" I stopped her frantic spiel.
"First off, we're both okay…" physically that is…I looked down briefly to see the Mayor's blood still caking the right portion of my clothes. Clothes I may now have to throw away. How the hell would I get all this blood out? Sighing, I bring myself to more important matters as I continue talking to Cece, "Secondly, we have to find that sniper. This shot came from an extended distance. And I don't know about you, but I don't see a crack pot-diesel donning-trannie hater making that shot."
There was no way it was a local crack-pot that made the shot. It would be near impossible alone to get a high powered weapon like that in Seattle without going through black market deals. And we ourselves go through those channels. Those bitches are expensive as hell to try to purchase. Locals couldn't afford that. "Neither Alec, our security nor myself heard the shot coming." Well I didn't hear it…but I felt it…something I was severely regretting trying to ignore.
"So, you think it was a professional hit?" she questioned, then changed her voice level. "Makes more sense though. I don't see 'diesel-donners' making a high powered shot like that. The impact alone tore Tom's shoulder to shreds, literally..." I know Cece…I was there… "Killing him on impact….that has to be a high powered rifle. I don't see a regular hand gun making that shot."
Her thought process was leading us into the right direction...talk about team work. As bad as it is, I think we'd make Lydecker proud…the very thought had me nearly crinkling my nose in disgust. Last thing I would have ever thought of was to make him proud, "I'll ask Mole since he's a big weapons consultant along with Daniel. If anyone could I.D. the weapon, it's them. They'd just need one thing."
I refrained from biting out 'what?' on the phone in front of the body guards. I was still trying to maintain my professionalism in this now adrenalized situation, "They'd need the bullet. Or at least an incredibly 80% or higher match of it to tell you what type of rifle." I nodded, "I'll see what I can do. Oh, FYI! I have a feeling we're gonna be dealing with some prejudicially challenged po poes in a hot second here, so we may not be home for a while." I just hoped it wasn't too long.
Snapping my phone shut, I didn't bother waiting for her response as the ambulance with its three sector cop car detail came up hot and fast. The ambulance workers looked ready to carefully pull the Mayor from his position and load him up onto the gurney. Alec and I, without further thought, followed the cheap bed on wheels. One of the paramedics stopped us.
"Whoa, you aren't going with him, you're going with them!" the ambulance personnel that loaded the Mayor up sneered at us as he closed the double doors, pointing his finger towards the cops behind us. I sneered back in revulsion at his remark. Not to mention I refrained from shoving him out of my way and up into the ambulance. "Prejudice piece of-" I stopped as I saw Alec.
Following his eyes I looked back in time to find ourselves being unjustly grabbed by sector cops. With the ambulance now leaving, we found ourselves each being shoved against two separate cop cars. Fucking figures… "Look we didn't do anything!" I try to explain. Why do I feel like I've been here before? You'd think these dumbasses would have at least half a brain in their heads.
I couldn't say much more as my face kissed the hood of the cop's car…not my first time but it was the first time I was pregnant while kissing one, "Shut up you piece of trannie filth. Unless you want to add more onto your sentence…" I bit down on the urge to spit out a few choice words at him. Didn't need him to add anything else. The words "resisting arrest" in the form of verbalness wasn't something I wanted to deal with, not in my condition.
He shoved me further onto the cop car, my immediate thoughts going to my unborn baby that was currently residing in my womb, "Hey watch it you fu-" I heard Alec start to say as the cop that was detaining him clipped him in the back of the head and sneered, "Watch your language animal or I'll find everything in the damned book to throw you away for a few life sentences."
Alec turned to face him, "When in the hell did I ever give the impression that I gave a rat's ass regardin' what you do with me?" Seeing the look in Alec's eyes caused the cop to hesitate for a moment. After all, what's more dangerous than a mated transgenic male that was not only being threatened, but having his mate just a few feet from him being threatened as well?
"This here…" Alec indicated with his cuffs he was currently sporting, "Just goes to show why I hate sector cops. The automatic thought process of 'oh the trannies did it' when there's clear evidence stating that we didn't do a damn thing!" His words were true, we all knew, but now, the cop he was facing off against grabbed what little backbone he had and used it to shrug in response, "Not the way I saw it."
Alec narrowed his eyes in suspicion as did I…what was this ass up to? "As a matter of fact..." he motioned to one of his buddies to come over. Alec briefly shut his eyes at the sight. He knew what they were going to try and do and it obviously irked him. "Seriously?" he muttered out, not that they could hear but I did…benefits of a being a pregnant highly hormonal transgenic. You got to have the majority…if not all…of your senses heightened.
His buddy came over and handed him a firearm... I groaned inwardly, knowing it was the one that was on Alec. They apparently frisked him while he was being handcuffed. It had been Alec's main preferred piece to carry on him just in case. I could see the gleam in the cop's eyes like he just found the prize at the bottom of the box. This wasn't going to end well. The cop that had been cuffing me pushed a little too hard, causing a small whimper from my throat that he couldn't hear, but Alec did, and he didn't like it.
"HEY! Watch it with her, you ass!" he growled through his shout, now ignoring the threat the gun had to his own safety. The cop didn't see the threat in Alec's eyes that stood before him, "Mind your own business, freak." The officer handling me threw back, "What's it matter to you anyways?" he remarked callously, "In case your corrupt brain can't figure it out, she's pregnant." The lingering look Alec left me and my stomach left no doubt in their heads on who the father was.
"Damn…man…" he cop who had me against the hood remarked a little stunned and a little disgusted. I couldn't figure out which one was more prominent, "Jezz…you trying to re populate the earth with your trannie filth? Oh hell no-we can't have that now can we?" it got me a little riled up to say the least, "We're not all animals, you dick! We're human…for the most part anyways." Weakly…I shouldn't have sounded weak…the cop pulled me back up now that the cuffs were on me.
Nasty breath against my ear, I fought the urge to recoil at the scent despite the fact that it was behind me as he spat out in low tones, "That's a load of BS you piece of-" I'd had it, I'd been insulted, un justly cuffed I might add, the ass hadn't even read me my rights… and damn it all I am a human! Rights are supposed to be read to me! Besides we are all a part of the animal kingdom. So I've got more than you-so what!
"You might wanna take back your words there, dick." Alec warned him, "Or what?" he challenged. Alec looked on menacingly and I felt the shift in the cop behind me. He was in fear of what Alec could possibly do to him. "Who says HE will be the one to do anything?" I threw out right before I jammed my heel into his shoe, then threw my head back into his face, feeling the bones in his nose break on contact.
"Don't screw around with a pregnant X5, you pig, we're not all that happy 'bout being threatened, or having our children threatened." I told him, standing there, ready to do it again if I had to. Seeing an opportunity I took a page from Zack's playbook and kicked the dick while he was down, "Turn a bout's fair play ass." I muttered out just loud enough for him to hear. Yeah, I could have run.
There's even a good possibility I'd run fast enough to avoid any bullets that came my way…but Alec was there and I wasn't EVER going to leave him. And come to think of it, if I ran now, it would make us look even more guilty than we already did…even if we hadn't done anything. I knew damned well that our mug shots were now littering the t.v.'s and news stations all over the city anyway. Where the hell would I go if everyone recognized me everywhere I went?
However, I now saw Alec's gun still in the cop's hand, Alec answered without being questioned, "Yeah, that's my gun." Like 'so what?', "Go ahead and have your guys check it. It'll be negative for a recent shot or any GSR and I'd bet you your next scrawny paycheck that the little nine millimeter that it uses isn't big enough to have been the one to hit the Mayor. The gun that shot the Mayor was way bigger than mine. So it'll kinda blow your theory into a puff of smoke…right?" I groaned inwardly.
I love my man, I love him to death, I do, but the terms he learned in Common Verbal Usage were really out-dated. Oh yeah, lets update the latest weapons and spy gadgets out there so our transgenics can be more effective in the field. But let's not worry too much about interactive vocabulary. The cop didn't seem to like being mentally tested, especially against a young X5 series.
"You got it all figured out, don't ya, you trannie freak!" he practically spat out. Alec reached up to wipe away the invisible spittle from of his face. Letting his hand fall down, he remarked in a similar fashion as he had with Normal at one time, "I prefer the term 'genetically empowered'." he smirked. Oh Alec…even when the ball was falling out of his court he still preferred to go down swinging, "But... proud to be a FREAK too. I'd take being a freak to being a Pig-headed ass any day of the week."
The officer had had enough by this point. I wasn't sure what riled him more. The invisible spit, or the "proud to be a freak over a pig" piece. Either way, he was pissed, "Get these freaks loaded up. We're heading back to the precinct." The cop I had recently head-butted was now pinching his nose to staunch the never ending blood flow…seemed that these guys didn't get out much if this was seemingly the first time he got a broken nose…as he glared at me in hatred once more.
"Want more?" I asked in an acutely professional manner, much like I had told the now dead clerk at that hotel with Bruno 'Have a nice night'. However, as I felt two sets of arms grab me, I turned to glare back as they took an arm each to lead me away from Alec and into a squad car. Yeah, at any point, I could have broken out. But this wasn't about that. We had to show that we weren't the enemy…no matter how hard that was.
The drive to the police station was as riveting as 'Wicked' would be on ice…if you actually enjoyed that crap. The cops in the front were rambling on about the latest sporting bet they lost while the one in the back sitting a seat and a half over wouldn't stop glancing at me. I wasn't sure if it was in fascination over being so close to a transgenic or if it was out of curious lust.
Either way I was getting agitated by his consistent head movements. "Take a picture it'll last longer." I spat out, not in the mood to play nice. The one cop in the passenger seat had also been currently busy taking care of his nose with a few Kleenex and now that I look at him more closely at his face…even with the blood…we'd had a run in before…over at Langford prison.
He was the same cocky little douche bag that jacked $54 bucks from me while 'processing me'…more like groping me since he thought I was a oh what did he call me…oh yeah 'a strung-out little skeeze-bag-tramp'…through the system while his cop buddy smirked, chuckled and looked on. Douche bag. He noticed my stare through the rear view mirror.
"You got a problem freak?" he asked. Right before the cop right beside me could utter a word at my "picture" statement. "You don't remember me do you?" I asked, probably best if he didn't…didn't need him asking any questions, could lead to more problems, "Should I?" he inquired trying to sound uncaring. I wanted to tell him 'You jacked fifty-four bucks from me over two and a half years ago.' A transgenic never forgets. "No I guess not." I remarked ignoring him.
After all, telling him that and explaining why I've been out longer probably wouldn't be beneficial, so if he didn't remember, that's cool…for now…cause when we get out, I'll find a way to pay him back…with interest. "Unit two, please respond, over." The dispatch radio suddenly sparked to life catching a part of my attention. Nose bleed douche bag picked it up, answering, "What's the problem, over?" "Unit two we've been notified to make a separate route for your vehicle and for unit four's."
The cop looked over at the driver sharing a mixed look. "Ah, dispatch, why are we being placed on a different route, over?" he asked, "It seems our newest cell additions have sparked MANY protestors outside the doors and are blocking the gates. We can't afford to bring the new arrivals in through the front gate, so we need to route you through the back. Over." The nose bleed douche bag sighed, "Copy that, over." His counter-part driver grunted in disapproval.
"This is bullshit, man. Trannie freaks should go through the front same as everyone else." His partner agreed, "They had PR issues to deal with same as the rest of the departments. If we go through the front and the protestors kill the freaks in question, then that's bad press on us." My curious back seat cop told them, "What do you know?" Nose Bleed spat out angrily, "The department can't afford anymore bad press." He stated simply.
"He's right. If those protestors kill us…" not that they could, one shot here or there and transgenic speed alone would act and we'd be nothing but a blurring memory… "Then it would spark outrage for many others. Besides how do you know that they're there in protest? They could be there in support of our transgenic cause." I informed them like they were incredibly stupid idiots for not thinking of that option.
Fucking morons! "Bull, no one…" the driver bent back to look when the cop next to me gave him a look, "What?" he asked, "You do read the papers on occasion right?" he retorted. Seeing the look on his face right before the cop went back to the road, he remarked, "The transgenics are gaining support these days. So she's unfortunately right. There's an INCREDIBLY SLIM chance that they could be there to support her and that other trannie freak in the other squad car."
I couldn't tell if it was an insult completely or if there's a compliment within that statement. I rolled my eyes either way. "So, which way is our new route taking us?" the mook with the nose bleed asked, "Its taking us just five minutes out of our way. Remember it's just to go around back." the driver reminded him. The other one decided to grab some more tissues to keep the blood at bay, "Bitch really nailed you huh?" the driver commented, smiling at his counterpart.
I smiled myself, "If you want, I could spread it around?" nobody called me a bitch unless I was truly in that moment acting like a bitch…I wasn't…not right now anyways. Nose bleed cop looked back, tissues packed round his nose. "Look trannie bitch-" I corrected his less than broken record phrase, "I prefer genetically empowered bitch. Get it right, you extorting moron!"
"You shut your m-" Nose Bleed was about to reach over the seat for me. I was prepping myself to fight when the cop beside me held me back…oh yeah, that's gonna really help you out...and the driver placed his spare hand on Nose Bleed's shoulder, "Shut it Miller none of that. Settle down! We've got to watch where we're at. This isn't the time to be bitching to the trash in the back seat."
Nose Bleed settled back into his seat and grumbled out a few choice obscenities, directed at yours truly, that I couldn't resist smirking at knowing I was making the ass lose control as we headed down a rough patch on the road. I zoomed in my enhanced sight and saw the dozens of pot holes to come. Lovely…last thing we need is for these guys to break an axle down this road.
So Miller is the name of the nose-bleed-douche-bag that fleeced me of my money…filing that information away mentally, Miller warned his partner, "Hey you might want to drive a little slower. We can't afford to damage our car…again." I smirked at that. He probably didn't even realize I could hear that little whisper. As tempting as it was I didn't need to alert them of one of my abilities. Besides, enhanced hearing can be a useful tool later on or in any event.
As Deck used to tell us, "true power is better left concealed". Can't believe the old codger was right! "Dispatch sent us the GPS coordinates. According to them, we need to make a left over there." Great! Po poes with little to no mental acumen. Which means that Alec's got to be having fun trying to keep his temper in check while I'm stuck over here and he's got his own rally of cops to deal with.
Seeing an unused alley way ahead I see that it's a tight fit but its going to be our route now. Using it the cops go down it steadily as we over come the pot hole road. My cuffs were still getting on my nerves as I was itching to grab something, a pen, a paper clip, anything to undo the cuffs, but I remained good…as irritating as it was. Remembering Deck's long ago words about concealed power, it's best for now to let them think they got me.
Hearing the barest of winds brushing by the vehicle, we saw the back entrance to the station coming into view. I saw Alec already standing there. We slowed to a stop. I was roughly grabbed out of the car and escorted through the station. If you wanna call being shoved and pushed as being escorted. They did the same to Alec as they forced us down a corridor. Alec's normal humor came out, seeming a little odd in this predicament, but that's my man! Finding humor in everything.
"So Maxie…How'd you like your ride?" he asked me sarcastically as he himself was being roughly shoved. Feeling me get shoved into him, he angled his body as he caught me with it and bound arms shooting a glare to the officer that was currently man-handling me. Miller just smirked, "What? You got a problem, freak?" he asked belligerently, still shoving me little by little down the hallway.
Alec gritted his teeth, all humor gone. "Yeah, as a matter of fact, I got a problem with your treatment of people. Especially when it comes to pregnant women." Alec retorted anger lacing his voice. I'd be surprised if he wasn't angry by this point. He received a shove in answer. "Just keep moving." Well, correct that. Miller attempted to shove him, but shoving Alec was like shoving a brick wall.
Before Miller could act on his agitation, the captain stepped in front of us. "I've dealt with a lot of things coming through those doors, drug dealers, prostitutes, gun runners, racketeers, thieves, but never had I dealt with a trannie. I guess there's a first time for everything." He looked like he was in between two different emotions-shocked and pissed. "Put them in my office. I have a detective coming in shortly." We were whisked away before we could utter a word.
Two double doors later, we were escorted through the captain's office. Alec was once again roughly seated in front of the desk as Miller pulled the other seat from next to him and had me sit in it against the wall. Un-cuffing my left hand he placed the now empty cuff on the metal rim of the chair. "You must really get a kick out of making people feeling lower than yourself." Alec's matter-of-fact remark-and the look he was soon to see on his face clearly struck a nerve within Miller.
"What did you say?" he asked menacingly looking back at him, Alec didn't look phased with it, just smiled back, "You heard me." he remarked with some added cockiness in his voice. Miller stalked over to him but before he could say or do anything, the captain walked in and began conversing, "So what happened out there today? Anyone have an explanation?" he asked.
Miller pulled out Alec's Glock and placed it in front of the chief on the desk, "I found this on THIS one…" he stated, nodding toward Alec, "right after the Mayor was shot. He was in point blank range of the Mayor. So I think he's the prime suspect as the shooter." Alec rolled his eyes, "Right, just blame the transgenic cause he's the easy target." That gained their attention.
"If you had any brain cells left, you'd know I didn't shoot the one man that's actually trying to HELP us. So tell me, what reason would I have for shooting him?" The chief looked thoughtful…maybe he was actually considering Alec's words…did we find the one guy on the police force that knew how to think for himself? I piped up, "Look, hurting the Mayor in any sort of way would never help us in our cause." Miller tried to interrupt, but the captain held up his hand…briefly…
Encouraged by this, I continued, "We are the last people to want the Mayor dead. We need the Mayor alive and able to make conscious decision so he can sign the treaty. Now, think about it… how would putting a hit out on someone we need help from, help us at all?" I could see the wheels turning in the chief's head, which gave me a little hope for this outcome.
He turned to Miller and shrugged. "She does have a point." Miller looked angered, "Sir she's a freaking trannie, she'll do anything so save her own ass!" The captain then looked at Miller, folding his arms. Miller took a step back, "So Miller, you tell me. What would be their motive for hurting the Mayor?" Miller grasped, "They could have been scamming the Mayor into the treaty thing."
The captain looked at him as if he was interested, but it looked to me like the captain was leading Miller into a trap. "So the Mayor finds out and they attempt to kill him?" Even the captain could see he was grasping at straws, "Yes sir…" Miller answered. The captain replied, "That's pure speculation and you know it Miller. How long have you been on my force? Five years, right? In that amount of time, has it ever occurred to you that we need PROOF. Not some made up half baked theory you conjured up out of your ass."
Miller was about to protest, but the captain raised his hand up as he stood and faced off with Miller, "Shut it Miller. I saw the video footage on the news. There is no way this gun made the shot. First off, Mr. Transgenic here…" he waved in Alec's direction, Alec simply threw a sarcastic smile his way, "was standing BEHIND the Mayor, while the Mayor was shot in the front. Second, the splash that bullet made came from a different gun… more like a rifle." The captain looked upset now.
Like he was having his time wasted on all of this. "So basically what you're saying is you got bupkiss. And you're wasting my time AND the tax payers dollars. Bring me some hard evidence to nail them or we'll have to let them go. Simple as that." Finally! Somebody that was seeing reason! Alec and I exchanged a look of surprise. It's a rarity that someone looks past the prejudice and looks at our situation logically. It was a change…for the better.
And Miller was pissed, but he was studying Alec in a way that raised my radar. Alec stared back at Miller, eyes narrowed. "Chief, does this trannie look familiar to you?"
The captain looked Alec over a moment, "I don't think so, should he?" he asked the cop back, "I've arrested him before… when was it?" he asked himself more than Alec, despite the fact that he was looking at him. Alec's eidetic memory went into over-drive, I could see it in his eyes.
He glanced at me and I could tell he remembered. I kept quiet, hoping Miller wouldn't. Apparently, that kind of luck is rarely on our side because Miller snapped his fingers in recognition. "The Timothy Ryan murder!" he blurted out, happiness on his features. He was using that angle to hold him now, we could both see it. The chief eyed Alec in contemplation and then looked up to Miller.
His anger and skepticism running over his features, "Miller, I swear to God, if this is another one of your half-baked, prejudiced attempts to throw him in jail for simply having animal DNA, I'm going to fire your ass!" I couldn't stop the smile from encompassing my features. Miller wasn't favoring this at all. He clearly had an issue with anger management. Something that was currently being directed at us.
I had heard Alec groan at the name "Timothy Ryan". Only I could hear the groan…Poor Alec…Having to suffer the whole mistaken identity crap all over again. "That wasn't me." Alec said but Miller pointed at him. "Shut up you piece of filth! You killed the guy and then pulled his teeth out. And I'll prove it!" He marched out the door and yelled, "Jones! Bring me the file on Timothy Ryan! And snap to it! I need it yesterday!"
I hated it when cops tried to act like big bad asses. Don't get me wrong, they are asses anyway, but not big bad ones. I spoke up this time, frustration within my features, "That wasn't him! Manticore made clones of some of us, and Alec's clone killed Timothy Ryan!" Miller didn't want to buy it, "Likely story sweetheart." He sneered at me. I looked over at the chief. We got help from him up to this point and we could sure use a little more now.
He caught my look and nodded toward me, "I remember this murder, but it's been a while since I saw the sketch of the murderer...I have to check all sides." Jones, a female officer, came in bearing a thick folder. She thrust it into Miller's hands and hissed, "Next time you issue orders to me you dick, it won't be the trannies you'll be worried about. Got it?" and then she huffed out. Ignoring her, Miller placed the folder on the table and rifled through the contents until he got to the sketch and held it up.
And yes, it looked like Alec. But they still weren't getting it. The chief raised a brow and looked at Alec, comparing his likeness with the picture. "Listen to me!" Alec leaned forward in earnest, "I was out of town when those murders took place. Manticore soldier, remember? I didn't get out of Manticore until two years ago. Manticore sent me over seas. Those murders were done by my twin, X5-493. I am X5-494."
"Where's your clone now?" the chief asked, not sure if he should believe Alec but at least trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. "He's dead." I answered sadly...gaining their attention. Alec could see I was seconds away from confessing how I know this and he warningly asked, "Max?" he knew what I was risking by telling them everything and I could tell as much as he wanted to be out of the line of fire with the cops he'd rather it be him than me.
"I killed him myself..." That raised the eyebrows of both cops as I began to explain, "Ben...493...became delusional. He used to be in my unit when we were kids at Manticore. We broke out together in '09 and we were split up. Ben...well the reality of the world outside Manticore walls drove him over the edge. I found out what he was…doing." It hurt too much to give an accurate description of the accounts that I saw the remains of.
"He almost killed Father Destry...and if I hadn't have fought Ben off, Father Destry would have been another victim. I broke his leg, and a Manticore retrieval team was coming at us... he…" Alec could see how much of an emotional piece I was having. Only my family or those that I loved could elicit this type of emotion from me, actual emotions, "he…I broke his neck." I finally got out, not wanting to go into the nitty gritty details on the in between.
Hardening myself to them I finished off, "So he is no longer a threat, and THIS man is not the same man that murdered Timothy Ryan." "Yeah, I'm the sane one." Alec snarked in response. I resisted the urge to bit out at Alec…Ben was a good guy, he was just…lost was all. "Likely story, freak." Miller smiled thinking he'd won this round, "You got any proof of this piece of fiction?" I sent him a murderous glare for his accusations. That was my brother he was referring to, not a piece of fiction!
"Else wise…" he looked around, "I think we could add a charge of murder to the list of offenses. And that would send you to the electric chair…and to be a little honest, I'd gladly pull the switch myself!" I could see Alec's jaw tense as he stared Miller down and forced himself to stay calm as he gritted out steadier than the cops would even give him credit for, "Yeah, in my wallet. Left back pocket." Miller eyed Alec warily and looked around briefly before he approached and stood over Alec.
He ordered him much in the same manner he'd been ordering me around in, "Stand up." Alec eyed him dangerously, and keeping eye contact, he stood slowly making sure the cop wouldn't try anything or use his movements as a reason to create further problems for us. He reached behind Alec and pulled out the leather wallet before shoving Alec back into his seat roughly, "Sit down."
"Bite me." Alec murmured. "What was that?" Miller asked menacingly and Alec just stared him down in defiance. The phone buzzed on the chief's desk. The chief picked it up and answered, "Blackburn." The voice sounded frayed, "Sir, we found a photographer and reporter that got into the building through an air duct. We're trying to secure the duct, but we need to know how you want to handle this."
Captain Blackburn sighed and rolled his eyes, "I'll be there in a minute." He pointed at Miller, "If I see any bruises on either one of them, it's coming out of your ass." Once the captain left, Miller opened the wallet, finding a wad of cash before looking at Alec with a raised brow. Alec shrugged, "I help fund Terminal City with food and supplies." Miller just looked on like he didn't care nor believe him.
"Bull, you probably stole it off of some little old lady." He accused. I was tired of this, I bit out, "That money is for Terminal City, you moron." I continued to explain, "Alec is our treasurer of sorts. Take that away and you take away the basic necessities of food and bottled water." Miller laughed like I was kidding around, "And what about you, sweetheart? What's in your wallet?" Memories of him practically groping me the last time came back to my memory as I simply stared him down.
"I don't carry one. Just my sector pass." He smiled in carelessness as he pocketed the cash. Alec and I yelled, "Hey!" and "What the hell?" simultaneously. The cop ignored us and searched Alec's wallet again, coming up with the papers. The captain walked back into the office, "Damn reporters. I hate them all…" I nodded, "Something we both can agree on." he resisted the urge to smile as he walked around his desk to take a seat as he asked Miller, "Well, is he telling the truth?"
Miller looked somewhat disappointed, "Check them out." hoping that his boss's eyes would see a fraud where he couldn't. No one could nor would. The man that did those was the best in the business. Logan used him for a reason. The captain actually seemed relieved, "I hate to break it to you Miller, but it seems they're right." The captain walked over to show Miller the papers. "Out of the country…" he remarked, Alec nodded without thought.
"As I said before I was overseas when it happened and it's kind of hard to kill a person when you're not even in the same damn country." His voice was un-wavering and completely calm, maybe even a little arrogant. "Then how is it that the DNA match was IDENTICAL to your own?" Miller asked. Alec rattled off, "Hence the word 'clone', dumbass. Made from the same test tube. Everything about us physically is exactly the same. Mentally? Not so much." Like it was so obvious.
"You happen to have the better of the test tube babies sitting here cuffed before you." He jingled his hands indicated his cuffs. I blinked my eyes free of his words. Thankfully the papers seemed legit enough to Captain Blackburn. I was thanking whatever deity out there that I still had access to the contacts able to pull off the I.D. Turns out my time spent up in Logan's cozy little pent house wasn't for naught.
In all of the questioning one came to mind, "Where are the security guards of the Mayor's? They can back up our case." The captain looked reason to back up my own question when Miller responded, "A set of sector cops patrolling the area questioned them and took what was needed." Great so they get a lecture and we get the fucking third degree….story of my fucking life…
Too bad I can't hit the wall…hitting things is such a stress reliever…I briefly contemplated hitting Miller…but that would probably not work in our favor…briefly I notice Alec looking out the window of the door but could only see the reflection in his hazel orbs. Zooming in on them, I see his eye candy. Firearms. Not very distinctive considering I am looking through his eyes but it was enough.
I squeaked my chair to gain his attention. He looked back to me in question, while the other cops just ignored the movement, preferring to just sneer my way. My eyes read 'Don't even think about it, it won't make us look any better.' He gestured to his cuffed hands and used Manticore hand signals to tell me what he was thinking, 'These fuckers already want to crucify us! How much worse can we look?'. Not necessarily…not if the captain really has half a brain in his head…
And doesn't let himself be over ruled by prejudicial emotions. Using my own hands I told him, "We need to stay calm. Things might get better since this Captain seems to be better than his cop counter parts." However, Alec's patience, as well as my own, was running out. Could be cause you've been sitting in here while the real sniper is getting away and probably out of Seattle by now. "Doesn't make me feel any better bout the hand cuffs." He signaled out.
I already knew he was mentally grunting in frustration. It grew steadily within me as well…call it the rise of hormones making me anxious. I don't care. Either way I raised my voice to anyone that would listen to me, "Is there anyone here with an IQ over fifty? Besides the captain?" It was classic, even if I did say so myself. "Look its obvious we didn't do anything wrong here. So why don't you do as your captain tells you and let us go." It was merely a suggestion…one that Miller clearly didn't want to take.
"Sir I really think you should reconsider. We should keep them here for further-"As Miller was talking, as if by some divine intervention, a tapping was heard at the door. Alec looked shocked and somewhat…happy? Miller opened it up to reveal Clemente. I was now happy as well. Clemente was good people in my book, same as Otto was…in a way…sorta…wherever he was.
He saw Alec first, not much recognition there, but when he saw me his eyebrows quirked up, "Max?" he questioned. I nodded, "Yup…right there with you." I agreed with his facial question. 'Why are you even here?'
"Detective Clemente I heard you were coming down here." The captain remarked. Clemente responded, "What are the leaders of Terminal City doing here in custody?" Miller responded, "They're here on grounds of attempted murder. Sir."
Clemente looked over at us both, "Attempted murder?" he questioned for obvious reasons. He knew how important this deal with the Mayor was so why would we try to kill someone who was helping us out? "Yeah, see apparently these guys can't figure out how to frame us for a crime we didn't commit." Alec retorted cockily, "You'd think they'd be used to it by now." he murmured out the last part on a shrug.
Clemente raised his brow at this, but didn't comment, "You were at the Jam Pony siege." More of a statement than a question, "Yep." Alec replied, "Still got a slight scar from the bullet to prove it." He added on. Not that you could see the scar unless you were up close to it. Call it our surplus of stem cells, they don't like us to look flawed. I guess they didn't count on internal flaws.
"I remember, you stood next to Max in Terminal City's parking lot." Something must have passed through his eyes cause his next remark caught us off guard, "Got to give you credit for the wardrobe slip you gave us." I myself was slightly stunned at the compliment from him. Alec normally only got them from either myself, our friends or a member of our community. I was mildly surprised that he didn't remember Alec getting shot but then again he arrived after the fact.
"Anytime…I just hope the next time we meet it'll be under better circumstances." Alec told him, "Same here." I felt like laughing a little, mostly in pride since here was Clemente, someone with some power talking to us both like human beings with rights while our arresting cops were previously treating us like dirt. Turning to the cops Clemente asked them, "So what happened here?"
Not wanting Miller to lie here I jumped in, "Layman's terms? Here's the dealio. Larry there…" I motion to the one cop then to Miller, "and Curly here grabbed us up for trying to kill the Mayor. Never mind the fact that it would have taken a trained sniper at a great distance to make the shot in the first place or the fact that we were standing right NEXT to him and there's no friggin' way we could have shot him without the numerous cameras catching it on film!" I snip out before the cops have a chance to protest.
The officers looked irritated at my words. They knew it was the truth but they didn't want to let us out of custody. "I think it might be best to let them into your custody. That is why you came in today is it not?" the captain asked. I saw the captains face, he knew the truth, and as much as he might not want to, his position as leader for this station prevented him from letting the real attempted killers go. He wanted the real shooter to be found just as much as we did.
"Yes it is as a matter of fact. You want to un-cuff them or should I?" Clemente asked Miller. "Sir I don't think it's a wise idea to un-cuff the attempted murder suspects. Who knows-" Clemente looked around astonished for a second as Miller spoke, "Seriously, what kind of half-assed show are you letting your men run while you're not here?" The captain sputtered but Clemente continued on.
"Didn't any of you numbskulls figure out that the bullet was shot from a longer distance?" silence…of course! "These two were standing point blank range of the Mayor! They're trained as highly skilled soldiers and wouldn't have missed that type of shot even in their sleep! Captain why in the hell would you make the decision to detain them and let the sniper escape into the wind? Whoever the shooter is probably made it across the city by now and on their way to the Canadian border." Clemente demanded.
"I did what I believed was best at the time." The captain stated now regretfully. But Miller had other thoughts, "These freaks of nature are the most valuable suspects. The city will demand their execution for what they've done. Terminal City's residents-" Clemente cut him off, "I'll save you from yourself right there." The captain didn't look pleased at Miller. Oh I smell a suspension coming on… "Now look here-" once again Clemente took the floor. "Let me connect these dots here."
I had to nearly laugh as he gestured between myself and Alec, "Assume it's them that killed the Mayor, and then what?" They were about to respond when Clemente raised a hand for silence and continued, "Better question, do any of you see how idiotic this move is?" Miller opened his mouth then seeing Clemente's look shut it once again. "Get the trannies angry and cause approximately two hundred highly trained super-soldiers to become pissed at the Seattle police department and start an all out war against us?"
Even the captain was lowering his head in slight embarrassment…and probably anger at having one of his own being the reason they were all getting a mouth full…after all this was HIS precinct to run. "Was that what your plan was now?" The officers weren't so quick to respond now. Miller was like a gaping fish, trying to respond but couldn't say anything to save his own life. It was quite amusing.
"So you want to start an all out war then?" he acted like he was half in disbelief and half trying to see if they were even remotely bright in the head space department. "You do realize that they out-rank us in speed, strength, power, intelligence, agility-just to name a few…the only reasons why they're still handcuffed to the chairs is because they choose to be." He turned to us, folded his arms and said, "Why don't you two give us a little show-and-tell of what I'm talking about?" Gladly! I thought.
Using the right momentum, we broke the chairs that bound us before Alec grabbed two pens, threw one to me and within seconds, un-locked the cuffs. Clearly stunned, the cops prepared to use force to stop us, each reaching for their guns, but Clemente gave the signal to stand down. Once our show-and-tell was over, we simply sat back on the desk and chair, completely smug.
Producing smiles, we each sat around like we were in our own apartment, just hanging around doing nothing. This clearly pissed the cops off. Our blatant "what the fuck ever" was plastered in our very body posture. It was an odd picture for us both. Alec was leaning against the cop's desk fiddling with more pens, throwing childish smiles at the Captain. Like "I won't break nothing'…swear…" while I was perched up on top of chairs backing like I was using it for recreational purposes.
"These people clearly did nothing wrong so why don't you go and put a team on that sniper." Clemente's words had me smiling in pride, "Sir why even give them the dignity of calling them people? They're animals." Miller asked him. Clemente responded, "I call them people because they are. Nearly a year ago they had the option of killing innocent people and shooting a business place to smithereens, but they didn't." The captain knew Clemente was right. No one died that night. A baby was born, but no one died.
"But-" I think even the captain had had it by now with Millers words, "That's enough Miller! If I hear one more prejudicial remark from your mouth you will be on suspension for the remainder of the month!" mental bravos here! I watched as Miller wanted to so bad to say one last thing, but the look in his bosse' eyes said 'boy I ain't playin'. "Now get out of here and send a team out for the sniper. And I swear to god…" he had to take a minute to calm himself down.
"If you just try to give me the run around with it and try to pursue them as the attempted murders it'll be your job. Not get out before I change my mind!" Miller was out of there faster than a jack rabbit trying to escape the coyote. His tail was so far between his legs you'd swear he walked extra funny. "You'll have to forgive my staff. The media really incites a lot of hatred around here. But from some tales that I have read from that 'New World Weekly' not all of your type are bad."
I mentally thanked Scetchy for that…and Alec for convincing me to do a few interviews and to let Joshua do them as well. It's pretty much well known how protective over the big lug I am. It's going to take a while till I see him as more than just "big fella". But back to the subject at hand here, I was going to remark on how that reporter is a good friend but thought against it. Didn't need him thinking we just paid Scetchy for the interviews done. This was good news though.
Moments later the captain released us into Clemente's custody. We walked out without restraints and without an 'escort'. "Thanks for that by the way." I told him grateful that we were in good hands now. We sat in his police car driving back to Terminal City. Come to think of it… "Can we make a stop? We need to make sure the Mayor's okay. It's important." I asked him. Clemente looked in the rear view mirror.
"After all of that you want to go see the man that you nearly got thrown away for attempting to kill?" I nodded, "We need to be sure he's alive and in decent condition. It's not just our future that's at stake, it's the residents of TC as well." he sighed, "I hope you know what you're doing." I remarked, "So do I…" seeing the hospital coming into view I was grateful that it wasn't Harbor Lights. Didn't need another run in with 'psycho-no-pain-no gain-bitch' again.
Getting out of the car, we all headed in towards the back entrance. Before I could get near the sliding doors, Clemente stopped me, "Before we go any further, let me do the talking. I have clearance here. You don't." Alec smirked at my frown, 'Fine." I grumbled out. We continued to walk in when I heard Alec's, "Guy knows you well." I looked to him just before the meaning of his words hit and I hit him…lightly that is. Flashing his badge, Clemente asks, "Nurse Stella, Detective Ramon Clemente, Seattle PD. I'm here to escort two friends of the Mayor for a visit with him."
"Friends?" the nurse peered at us suspiciously from behind Clemente's back. Sighing, he nearly snapped out, "Look, I don't have all night. Who is in charge of security at this location? Holmes right?" she was a bit stunned Clemente knew him and responded with, "Yes sir, actually that is correct, but…" Clemente took the walkie-talkie that was still attached to his shoulder, pressing the button he said, "Hey Holmes? Clemente here. What's your status?"
"Everything is secure and tight over here sir. Mayor hasn't once been disturbed." He replied, "Do me a favor, will you? I'm down in the lobby. Call the nurse's station and let them know who your boss is and that I'm clear to come up with anyone I damn well please." Within seconds, the phone on the desk rang. I couldn't stop the small smug smile crossing my face anymore than Alec could stop his smile of mirth.
The nurse cast a look at all of us…I suspected it was out of fear of her boss due to her hesitancy to pick up the ringing object. She looked flustered as she picked it up, "Hel-Well, sir, the only reason why I hesitated…" she was apparently cut off as she sighed and answered, "Yes sir, they're on their way now." She handed Clemente a clip board to sign us all in, although it was obvious it was with great reluctance as she cast suspicious glances at Alec and myself.
We were all given visitor's passes, which was literally a sticky name badge with our names in black marker slapped to our clothes. We were then led to the back elevators that would lead to the Mayor's floor. Clemente pressed the button for the fourth floor once the doors shut. "Don't mind some of my men. They're not as welcoming as I am with you guys." I shrugged it off, "We're used to it…" Alec finished my thoughts out loud, "Yeah, unfortunately." I looked over briefly as we hit the fourth floor.
Ignoring the looks we got from his men, I went straight for the Mayor's room. However, I was thwarted by someone stepping into my path. Knocking into him, we both stumbled slightly as he straightened himself out but not before helping to right me up as well, not that I needed it but it was a nice gesture. "Sorry bout that, wasn't paying attention." He mumbled out. "No big dealio." My focus went back to where the Mayor was laying in a hospital bed.
The scene was bad but at last he was till alive. I sighed in relief that he was. Our worse fears were being settled. "Name's Gamble, Spencer Gamble." He iterated. I was seconds away from telling him to shove off when I noticed his attire and whom he was surrounded by…the other members of the Mayor's security detail. Now I was curious, "Max, Guevera." I answered, looking for answers myself. "I know of you, you're the leader of Terminal City." He responded back. "One of them…" I look back noticing Alec only a few feet behind me.
I signal for Alec to come forward along with Clemente to talk, "Alec here is my Second and helps me run Terminal City as well. This is Clemente of the Seattle PD. You work for the Mayor?" I asked after doing the round of intro's. He straightened out his tie responding, "I work for him yes. I'm now acting Deputy Mayor. I will be taking over his responsibilities till he recovers from his wounds."
I nod my head, "How severe are they?" Gamble sighed, "That security detail saved his life. But the impact did still do an insurmountable amount of damage." So at least the X5 we put on the Mayor wasn't for nothing…last thing I'd want is for an X5 or for anyone protecting someone else, for their death to have been in vain… "How much?" Alec asked him wary of his words, "The bullet ripped right through several organs. He's lucky to be alive."
Anyone could tell Gamble was weary of the Mayor's ability to return to work any time soon. "I hate to be a kill joy but how long will he be down?" I looked up at Gamble, "He's presently in a coma. The doctor's had to induce it to give his body a chance to heal and not keep flat lining." That's bad…I looked through the glass before keeping my emotions at bay and asking, "As bad as this is to ask we need to know how this'll effect the treaty we were going to sign today."
Gamble sighed, "Perhaps we could set up a meeting to talk about that. I don't think that having this conversation in the hospital hallway is a very good idea." I ransacked my mind for an available time and date to set it up, "He's right. You don't know whose walking these hallways. Don't need extra complications to add to this." Clemente was right we didn't. "You know the old phone line that the Mayor used to get into contact with me?" I asked him.
Gamble shook his head no, "Here." I gave him the number to that line, "This your private number?" he asked. He took a decent glance at me in what I assumed was in 'interest' before presuming to be back on business. I ignored the slight look and cut off that train of thought, "No it's my office line. Call me with a time and date to set up. I'm sure you have to make room with all of your new meetings coming in. if I don't hear from you within a month we'll be contacting you."
He nodded at my words before pulling out his cell, presumably to see what he had to do next. We left leaving a lingering look towards the Mayor's security, then at his room before leaving for the elevator. Stepping into it Clemente hit the button for the floor we started out on. "Fun times. Huh?" Alec grunted sarcastically as the elevator doors closed and we started to move.
"Excitement follows me wherever I go." I replied sarcastically. "Well your fun times are about to be over." Clemente said. We both looked to get the reference to his meaning, "Right now you two are back to most wanted. Its going to take some time to clear up this muddied up mess so till then you two aren't to make any public appearances." I frowned at that. How in the hell was I suppose to remain inside TC all day every day when I had a city to partially run and actual 'runs' to make?
"We're good at sneak and creep, we can keep out of the public eye." Alec replied to him matter of factly. "I mean it. Wait till I call you so that you can make appearances." But, that can't… "That's not going to work. We're going to be in negotiations with the deputy Mayor in around a month, he might have us making public appearances." I told them both. "She's got a point there." Alec told Clemente. He sighed, "If you're seen next to him at 'social functions' then you're seen with political professionals."
I was about to ask 'what difference did that make?' when Alec touched my shoulder, "He means that political crap we're okay with but not making regular runs. Like seeing our friends out the outside." Oh…well…I'll just bring them into TC as we have been. I can't go without seeing my girl, nor the goofiness that is Scetchy, or my buddy Herbal. "We'll work around that." I responded back as the elevator opened up. Leaving out Clemente then gave us both a ride back to TC.
Dropping us outside the gates at the corner as to avoid the protestors still lingering there he warned us to be careful as he left off. We looked around the perimeter before both jumping the fence. Once we landed, we started to walk towards HQ. both of us looked worse for the wear at this point in time. My business suit had several layers of caked on blood, none of it mine while Alec had a bunch of debris on himself but otherwise looked just tired…lucky ass.
"Why do I have to be the one who looked like the events of today when you look like all you did was walk out of an office meeting?" I was perturbed by this. Another outfit on my part ruined while he was free and clear…for the most part. "Seriously? After what just happened today that's your first thing to think of?" I opened my mouth, "I know how detrimentally screwed we are but it's not going to help me much to think about it and only it. We still have a thousand other things to think about."
My voice ended up alerting some X6's out on patrol as they saw us, alerted others and came running in our direction. "See you scared the kids." Alec chastened me. "Shut it." I smacked him for his insinuation. All at once we saw more and more people coming out to see us. "Well this should be interesting. A nice homecoming." Funny…especially considering the news we had for them.
The number of things that could go wrong with this whole thing were substantial. The deal hadn't gone through for us just yet, the Mayor was at death's doorstep on an all too very literal note, a Deputy Mayor was to be looking over our contract within the next few days to a few weeks, we still had protestors outside our gates-that'll still be fun to deal with-not to mention keeping an eye out still for White's no-pain no gain freaks. I didn't trust that we were completely done with them.
I guess we were about to find out...here we go…