Disclaimer: All characters and plots, of DARK ANGEL and X-MEN do not belong to me. I am using them for entertainment and not profit.
Fore Note:
Dark Angel: In this it's set just before, Dawg Day Afternoon.
X-men: This part of the story is taken from the x-men comic book, yet in this story the mutant phenomena never got as big, the government stopping its spread before it even started.
The X Factor
Chapter 1: Freaks of science
A small figure paused in the shadow of an overflowing dumpster, glancing across the street at a tall building. The glass windows glinted with reflected streetlights. Large gold plated letters proclaimed the name Trask industries above the door. Her dark eyes scanned the building, a smirk forming on her full lips. And, as though she were a shadow herself, Max blended into the darkness.
She crept down a deserted alley, glancing both ways to see if she was followed or spotted. She paused at the basement door to the Trask building. She pulled the door open as carefully and as quietly as she could. Smiling, she ripped a piece of black tape from the door latch.
"Works every time," She muttered,
Max had come here earlier that day, pretending to deliver a Jam Pony message, then had complained about needing to use the bathroom. After that it was a simple task of sneaking down and preparing the door. The old tricks were always the best. She crept in quickly taking in the dark corridor. A soft noise caught her attention, and her eyes darted, trying to pinpoint its source.
"What are we doing?" A male voice whispered into her ear. Max jumped, turning around to deliver a sharp punch to his shoulder.
"Alec!" she hissed, glancing at his smiling face, "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I got bored," He replied with a shrug, "I followed you from Crash after you spoke to Logan on the phone." He glanced around, "Figured that it could be fun, so…." He paused, looking around "what are we doing?"
"We? We are doing nothing," Max snapped, "You? You are leaving!"
"Owwww come on Maxie," He pleaded, his green eyes giving her his best puppy dog impression. Max however seemed immune to the effects. She stood her ground glaring at him. Finally she sighed in exasperation, she knew Alec's stubbornness ran as deeply as her own.
"Fine," She said, "Just don't get into any trouble."
Alec feigned hurt, before gesturing for her to lead on.
Avoiding camera's and security was like child's play to the two X5's. Before long they stood before the reception desk. Max glared at the empty seat, remembering the bleached blonde bimbo that had turned her fake nose up at Max as she had tried to scope the place out earlier that day.
Footsteps alerted Alec and Max to an approaching sentry. With a quick glance at each other they dived under the desk, wedging themselves with great difficulty beneath the table. Max rolled her eyes as she found herself half pinned by Alec, "Logan this better be worth it!" she glared up at Alec as he shushed her. The moment the guard moved on, Max was back on her feet and quickly heading down the corridor, she knew Alec was following her without even checking.
Using the stairs they climbed the levels of the building. Max glanced through the crack of the stairwell door. The corridor was like many of the others below, a line of offices ran the walls, with one exception. A large armor plated double door stood at the end of the hall. Two guards stood either side of it. The security panel besides them glowed brightly, green and red lights flashed in the dimly lit corridor.
She glanced over her shoulder at Alec, who raised an eyebrow at her, and gave her a look that clearly read, after you. Blurring out of the stairwell and down the corridor, the two X5's took out the guards before they even realized what hit them. Max turned her attention to the security panel, she reached down and grabbed hold of the unconscious guards arm, pulling his glove off. She placed his hand on the print scan and watched as the lights changed from red to green.
The door opened slowly sliding out of sight, and Max and Alec stepped inside. A large terminal covered half the wall. A lone computer tech sat at the desk, turning to face the opened door. "Who the hell are you?" He demanded, "What are you doing here?"
A simple punch from Max and the man was down, and Max took his seat. She reached into her vest and pulled out a CD, placing it into the drive.
"So," Alec said, leaning against the back of the seat as Max worked. Her fingers flying across the keyboard. File upon file of secret data and diagrams, most looked as if they had been taken from a satellite, were all copied onto the disk. "What is all this?"
"No clue," Max replied, "Logan says its something important." She finished what she was doing and removed the CD. "We're done." She tucked the CD into her vest. Spinning the chair around to face Alec. She stated, "Lets go."
No sooner had those words left her lips, than the security lights begin flashing. 'ALERT' begun to flash across the screen. Max cursed, leaping from the chair. The large doors started to close. Obviously designed to trap however was trying to break in. Max and Alec had no intention of letting that happen. Quickly fleeing the room, they ran down the corridor. The sound of raised voices drifted to them as they fled. They froze before diving into one of the offices. Pausing behind the door they listened. She and Alec glanced around the room before crossing to the window.
"We have to get out of here." She glanced around for an escape route. "That building next to us it doesn't look that far away," Max said pointing to the adjacent building. "We could make that jump easy," she commented pushing the window open. A sudden gush of wind from outside rushed in causing Max's hair to flick wildly around her face. Quickly, she climbed out onto the ledge, moving along so Alec could climb out after her.
"Damn it Max," Alec said, "Why is it every time I come out with you, I always end up climbing the outsides of buildings. DOORS Max, normal people use DOORS."
"Shut up and jump," Max snapped before, taking her leap. She landed on buildings roof easily. Alec muttered something about hating climbing buildings before jumping himself.
"Well that was easy," Alec said once on the other side, "Now Maxie, if you would be so kind as to tell me, how we are going to get down?"
Max looked up from were she had been surveying the edge, "Take one guess Alec," She said softly.
"Argh," Alec complained, "I hate pipes!"
They made their way back to where Max had left her bike. Alec climbed onto his. Starting up there bikes, they prepared to go their own separate ways.
"I guess I'll see you at work tomorrow?" Alec said, as Max nodded to him, before roaring off down the street.
TBC
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