"Go Go! Go! Go! " yelled Alec as White and his Phalanx burst through the front door, laying gunfire. "Come on Mole! I got ya' covered"
Alec turned to follow Mole up the stairs. A sharp pain exploded in his side followed by another.
"Ahh, Fuck"
"You OK there princess"
"Just peachy. Help me close this door."
"Take cover people" Max pointed to the various column and file cabinets.
Logan got his gun ready.
"Fuck." Mole looks over "empty" Alec mouthed. Mole looked at his piece and back at Alec and both proceed to flip the guns over to use as blunt objects.
" Wait for my signal. We hit hard, we hit fast, and we don't back off. This is for all the marbles, people" Max pointed upward and everyone gave a thumbs up. Alec struggled to maintain his position in the ceiling. His shoulder was hurting but it was nothing compared to his side. Two god dammed bullet holes and now they were dripping blood on the floor. "Great just great." It didn't take long for shaking to set in and all Alec could think is for White to hurry up.
Finally one of the phalanxes opened the door and the rest rushed in with White closing. Alec watched as they did a careful sweep of the area before moving further into the room.
"Come on bitch, come to papa" Alec thought as the phalanx team heard Gem's muffled moans and slowly moved toward the desk. Alec dropped down along with Mole and Max each taking one of the on.
Alec was aware of Joshua growling in the back but all his attention was focused the bitch in front of him. She was fast, they were exchanging blow for blow. Alec could feel the blood running down his leg, room was starting tilt. "Focus soldier" he chastised himself. That moment of inattention cost him dearly. The Phalanx rammed him and shoved through the glass partition. Alec rolled with the fall but his reflexes were getting slower. The glass shards shred his palms and legs. This had end soon or she was going to finish him off.
Giving quick thanks to who ever was watching over him, Alec realized that he had dragged the his opponent through the window with him. She had not been expecting it and was a little dazed. Quickly jumping to his feet Alec initiated his attack. Again they were matching blow for blow. Alec could feel every impact down to his bones. He could not hold out much longer. But how to finish her off? He was aware of gunfire behind him, hoping it was the good guys.
Everything was starting taking on that surreal feeling. It was as if everything had slowed down and he could just watch. If only he could move faster. He could hear everything. Normal whispering All right, it's coming. It's coming." But there was a strange din to the sounds.
He saw the leg come up, tried to move out of the way but the kick landed as intended, right to his head. Alec could feel his knees buckle. He hit the floor hard. Trying to shake of the impact he looked up just as the Phalanx was coming at him with a four by four. Alec quickly rolled and received a glancing blow to his ribs. He just kept rolling trying to doge the swings. Every time he was not fast enough he could feel things break inside him. Just as he ran out of room the Phalanx wound up for a final blow. With everything Alec had left, he lashed out with his legs sweeping the legs from under her and an expertly aimed kick under the chin. Finally she is out. Alec just lays back down breathing heavily. His body throbed in time with his heartbeat.
On the other side of the room Thula leans over Max, punching her repeatedly. Max sneaks some handcuffs out of Thula's pocket and gets a cuff around one of her wrists. Thula stands up, pulling Max with her, and starts to choke her. Max uses a column to flip over so that she is out of the choke hold and standing behind Thula. She swings her by one arm so that Thula ends up wrapped around the column and then handcuffs her other wrist. Thula is now standing with her arms around the column, wrists cuffed together. She struggles, and tries to kick at Max, but doesn't succeed
"Everybody clear" yells Max.
Everyone has answered except for Alec, he is still on the ground panting, trying to control his breath because his broken ribs are not allowing full inhalations.
"Alec!!? You clear"
Alec tries to answer but no sound is coming out . Suddenly he hears a baby crying. They have done it. The baby is safe … for now.
Logan walks over and grabs Alec by the arm to help him up. "You alright?"
"Yeah." Alec grunts
"You sure?"
Alec looked directly into Logan's eyes and yelled "Clear!"
As the feeling of vertigo diminished a little , it was touch and go there for a moment when Logan pulled him up, Alec realized the growling is Joshua. Limping as fast as he can over to where Joshua threw White through a wall. Snarling he picked White up and bends him over his knee. White's back is cracking.
"Joshua, no. Joshua, no!" Alec pleaded trying to restrain him. "Joshua, no"
"He deserves to die! He killed Annie!"
"Yes he deserves to die, a lot. But if you kill him now, the only thing people will remember about today is how some transgenic killed a human being in cold blood...and then they'll never stop hunting us."
Joshua considered Alec's words and then dropped White to the ground.
"Bring around your muscle queens anytime. I'll be happy to kick their ass." Max whispered in White's ear
"We are not finished." White snarled
"Fe'nos tol, bitch."
Alec looked from Max to Gem and the others. Normal was handing the new born to Gem.
"There you go. Oh, what a dear little sweet soul."
"No barcode. She doesn't have one." Gem says in relief.
"Then she's free." Alec whispered
Glancing at him over his shoulder"Not yet, she ain't." Mole said jerking his chin at the police outside Jampony. Max turned around to look at all the trussed up phalanx.
Alec cannot help himself. The little new born is just most beautiful thing he has ever seen. This is why I fight so they can be born and live.
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"Weapons down! Hold your fire! Team coming out! " Logan dressed in the Phalanx gear opened the door all the way "Let's go. Federal agents! Step back! I need you back. Move! Move! We may have a biohazard here, people. Make a hole. Make a hole. Move! Move! Let's go." Turning to Clemant "Agent White wants your people in there to secure the crime scene ASAP. Let's go! Let's go! Let's go, let's go"
People move apart to let them through. All eyes are on Mole and Joshua being escorted in hand cuffs. Alec just smiles to himself. They were gonna make it. They will have a chance.
Ushering Gem into the Ambulance Alec turned to Detective Clement "We're going to need to commandeer this ambulance. Agent White is not a man who likes to be kept waiting, Detective."
Waving Original Cindy over "Here" pushing her into the driver seat "Follow the van"
Original Cindy nodded and Alec gave her a reassuring smile. At least he hoped it was reassuring. He could not tell anymore, everything but his side has just started to feel numb. When Max had come up with the idea of dressing in Phalanx gear he made sure his back was to the wall. No time to have any worry time was of the essence. There would be time later to take care of the wounds. Alec however did not realize their severity. He had already lost a lot of blood and beating he took had only aggravated the bullet wounds.
Going over the back of the van he climbs in and shuts the door. Squatting down by Max, Joshua and Mole he removed their handcuffs.
"Thanks" Max whispered
Alec just nods.
"Clear the barricades. Clear the barricades" Logan started the van "Clear the barricades! Clear 'em! Let's go!"
"Nice and easy." Max whispered by his ear as the crowd moved aside to let the ambulance and van through.
" Let's move it! Move! Move! Let's go! Let's move it! Move, move, move, move! Get out of the way!"
" We're clear." Max called out in relief as everybody cheered.
"Yeah, baby. That's what I'm talkin' about." Mole said trying to catch Alec's eye to share in their success. Alec remains unresponsive staring glassily not focusing. He is giving Mole frowns something is off he just knows it.
Realizing that he is being scrutinized Alec answers Mole's implied question "It's all good" Looking at Mole he removed his helmet.
Logan glanced in the rearview mirror eyes meeting with Max and she smiled in return. "All right. Head for Terminal City"
Alec just watched the interaction it left him feeling strangely content to witness their love. Another reason to do they were doing, so that his people would be free to love. Looking back up front Alec realized that Logan was looking at him now. Maintaining their eye contact he just nodded.
The ride was proving excruciating, sounds were starting to fade out his vision was fuzzy and a black haze was encroaching. Alec could hear his heartbeat echoing in his head, wondering if everyone else can hear it too, and blood has started to pool underneath him. Even with his transgenic genes having the bullets still inside was preventing his body to clot properly and stop the bleeding.
" We got company." Logan yelled over his shoulder as he accelerated.
Clement's voice could be heard over the bullhorn "Stop your vehicles now, or you will be fired upon. Pull over now, or we will use deadly force to stop you."
"Don't stop. Keep moving." Max called out.
With the increased speed over the bad roads, it was all Alec could do to sit up. Everything around was spinning in a haze of pain. Every time the van ran over a pothole it was knifes going through Alec's body.
"Alec. Alec! Hey you with us?!" Mole waving his hand infront of his face.
"What do you want Mole" Alec forced his eyes to focus. It was a struggle as all they wanted to do was roll to back of his head. Now is not the time. Focus soldier. You're gonna be needed.
"What are you, a space cadet?!" Mole's lips are moving but Alec is having a hell of a time understanding the words.
"Go straight through the gates." Max yelled as the neared the locked gates of Terminal City.
" Hold on." Logan gripped the steering wheel.
Alec was thrown off the seat and onto the van floor as they plowed through the gates. The pain of the impact left him breathless. Putting his hand on to side he tried to just breath. Max's voice was coming from far away. "You're gonna make a right, a left, then straight up the ramp. Straight through the building." Suddenly the van came to stop.
" End of the line." Logan turned to the occupants in the back. Alec was still on the floor oblivious to his surroundings. No one noticed as Clement's voice could be heard over his bullhorn. "Throw your weapons out and let me see your hands."
"So what's your plan now? Fearless leader" Mole sneered
" Max?" Joshua has realized that something is wrong with Alec. He has not gotten up and Joshua has found the puddle of blood under his seat. Max does not hear the fear in his voice. Everyone moves out of the van slowly hands up in the air. Josh gently lifts Alec of the ground.
"Alec covered in blood". Alec's head just lolls forward. "Alec need to walk"
"Josh? Hi" Alec looks at Joshua with glassy eyes
"Hi. We need to outside now"
"We in TC?"
Josh nods.
"Help me down." Alec leaned heavily on Joshua. He had to pull it together. Gritting his teeth he stepped out of the van.
" Throw your weapons out now!" Clement's bullhorn yells again
" You heard the man." Max looks at all the people standing beside the cars.
"Well, this sucks." Mole was eyeing Clement dangerously.
" Step away from the vehicle, and keep those hands up. Do it! Put your hands up. Keep them up! Keep those hands up. Step out of the vehicle and keep those hands up. Get down on your knees and put your hands on your head."
Alec breath hitches as he realizes that him and Max are the only ones not complying.
" Get down on your knees now. Do it!"
What is she doing, Alec could only stare at Max.
" 452?"
" You can call me Max."
": I think you better get down on the ground."
" Actually, I think you should probably go."
" I'm not gonna tell you again."
" I'm not gonna tell you again."
Sudden cocking of guns can be heard in the background and one by one Terminal City comes to life with all of its inhabitants. Alec is overwhelmed, Max knew they would come, she knew they were a people with a bond. Why had he forgot that. Alec is amazed and ashamed, he forgot his family but they did not forget.
"You can try to arrest us all, but you guys might want to call it a night and go have a beer."
Looking around Clement turns to the police " All right. All right, everybody, let's back it up. Let's back it up! Outside the fence! Back it up! Come on, let's move!"
"You kept today from turning into a bloodbath, and I respect that."
"You held up your end, too."
" But you haven't won anything. This is gonna get real ugly, and this is way over my head now. These people's lives depend on the decisions that you make right now. I pray you make the right ones...Max."
Watching the police leave Mole turns to Max " Escape and evade. We divide up into teams, pick an azimuth, and go to ground."
" No, we stay here."
" In a couple of hours, that perimeter will be completely locked down. Tanks, National Guard, every cop within a hundred miles." Mole pointed to the perimeter fence.
" We'll be digging our own grave, Max." Dix piped up
" Mole's right. If we move now, they'll never be able to catch us all." Alec looked at Luke. What were they thinking. Where were they going to go. They had make a stand. Drawing on strength he did not know he possessed Alec stepped away from Joshua to address his new and fist family
"Where are we gonna go? I or Max can't stop anyone from leaving, but I'm not going run and hide and I am done being afaird. I'm not gonna live my life like that. Aren't you tired of living in darkness? Don't you want to feel the sun on your face? To have a place of your own where you can walk down the street without being afraid? They made us, and they trained us to be soldiers, to defend this country. It's time for them to face us and take responsibility, instead of trying to sweep us away like garbage. We're not going anywhere. So they call us freaks; who cares? Today I'm proud to be a freak. And today we're gonna make a stand, right here. Who's with Max?" Alec's arm shot up. Eyes locking the Max and she gave him a little smile and a nod.
Max raised her hand, followed by Joshua and one by one the others join in.
" What the hell." Mole raised his hand