Disclaimer: For this fic's full disclaimer read chapter one. I don't own DA. La de da… Spoilers for even though' we are not at that point what Logan said in Loco Pollo- 2 bodies in Chicago, 4 in Miami and 3 in New York for those who don't remember. There are also spoilers for the flashbacks in the Berrisford Agenda. This chapter takes place just after Blah, Blah. Woof, Woof. I have decided while I am sticking true to the first season, Season two is going to be different in certain ways and the story for the Dark Angel second season will be posted when the timelines mesh. And no, Alec will not be in love with anyone right now, original character or Max. He is trying to put Rachel behind him (Berrisford).
Chapter Two-In her Name"Oh, please god no". At the age of thirty- three, Graham Long was too young to die. He remembered all the things he still had to do in life as he ran through the underbrush wincing as small branches scratched into his skin.
His entire life he had done the Lord's work and his centre for homeless teens saved many lives each year. And he still needed to keep it going, to help people, to make the difference.
The young man that had abducted him jumped from Graham's side and grabbed his arm, breaking it. The man then ripped the pendant of his neck and Graham caught sight of his eyes and froze in fear. At that moment he knew he was going to-
A crack sounded as Graham fell to the ground dead, and the young man stood over him.
The young man walked down the main aisle of the church, his hazel eyes serious in concentration. His short blond hair didn't cover the back of his neck where the jacket did not.
A barcode was at the base of his neck. He walked to the altar where there was a statue of the Virgin Mary and looked around. Then the young man kneeled and placed a handkerchief he had been holding on the altar. There were splotches of red on it, blood. He looked up and smiled.
---
Rae tapped her fingers on the counter and smiled as an old harried waitress who was stepping out, glared at her. She pulled the fingers away just as a slight tremor went through them.
"Hi". The waitress gave her a death stare.
"Here's your order". Rae took the tray and turned around, walking to the table where Jaye had been waiting for her. It was a lunch break and Rae had been spending them for the most part trying to get to know Jaye. It was hard considering Jaye really clamped up. He had been 2IC of his unit and there had been only one other 'twin' from Rae's unit in his.
Apparently all clones had been in reindoctrination for a mandatory six months after the escape. Rae had tried to apologize but Jaye had refused it. For one, she like most transgenics did not have a twin to speak of. And secondly Jaye believed that by escaping Rae and her family had done the right thing.
And even before the event that caused him to defect, Jaye had been jealous of her unit, that they had made it. Jaye though, was one of the few unfortunately.
"If Lydecker knows you are here at least why haven't we seen a trace of him all week" Jaye asked keeping his voice low. Rae hesitated and then spoke.
"Lydecker was after Max in Seattle, I heard it from a former Manticore tech in Seattle and only scattered details. But Zack saved her by giving himself up. I guess he is too busy celebrating".
Rae's tone took on a dark edge. The fact that Lydecker had Zack was not helping her sleep any better wondering what Deck was doing to her big brother.
"But your brother does not know where you are so isn't that a bad thing- damn it I am sorry". Rae put a hand to her temple and it was shaking slightly. Zack had not been in contact with her and until the previous day Rae had not known how her brother was doing.
"Don't worry, we do have to keep a look out for Lydecker and anything that can get us caught". Rae picked up her glass, plain milk and drank. It was warm but that didn't matter, it was what was in it that helped because milk contained tryptophan naturally. Playing the one in charge was a new experience for her, and not just because it was hard. If she screwed up, Lydecker would get both of them. And Rae was not in the best state at the moment.
Jaye had, understandably been all for leaving Miami. But leaving now would leave a trail, a trail easy enough for Deck to track them down. And Jaye was just getting to know this city- him leaving now would earn him a one way ticket back to Manticore. Jaye barely knew how to keep under the radar now. And Rae did not want to leave unless she had to.
"So all hands on 'Deck'". Rae smiled her mood improving and kicked him under the table.
"Are you sure there's nothing between you two, 'cause I could swear". Rae looked at Piper who had come just behind Jaye. Piper's dark brown eyes were warm as she greeted her friend. Piper knew there was nothing going on but she enjoyed getting a reaction.
"No, we are secretly beginning our world domination". Piper rolled her eyes at Rae's even toned sarcasm. "How's Scott?" Scott's grandfather had died last week and the funeral had been today. Rae knew they had been close.
Piper shrugged. "You know him girl, Scott's all for talking emotions and stuff when it comes to the geekish world but real life- he sucks". Rae shook her head and sighed.
"I am picking him up from the church tonight. He didn't want to go to the wake and no one else could drive him so-" Rae stopped speaking as her cell chirped. "Excuse me". Rae opened her cell and stood outside. "Hello?"
"Rachel Larter, it's me Dr Craig Green. We met last month when you helped me with my Jane Doe". Rae had met Dr Green during a conference, he worked for a morgue in the other main Miami hospital and she had helped him.
"Yes, I remember".
"Well, I have just been on leave and since my morgue doesn't have anyone else at the moment I have not been checking the bodies till I came back. And you asked me to inform you first, of anything strange for your research paper"
Rae frowned. That was her cover to get information on anything from her angle. Any contributions in the medical world she made would just have to go unnoticed. "What have you got?"
"There are three bodies that were found within days of each other, the last one was found only this morning. Rachel- the teeth were pulled out precisely, an arm on each person was broken and each victim has a barcode on the back of his neck".
Rae disconnected the phone in shock and took off back towards the hospital. Inside the diner Jaye looked confused and Piper sat where Rae had been.
"Don't worry, she does that sometimes. Annoys Larson to no end but Rae comes back with an explanation. Besides she can tolerate him which is rare, though I myself only despises him an itty bit".
"Glad to here that Cameron". Piper shook her head and clunked her head hard on the table. Then she looked up with a resigned air.
"He is behind me, huh?" Larson just muttered under his breath about female doctors and went to the counter.
"I am surprised that he and that woman don't get along," said Jaye. Piper smiled in agreement, tried Rae's drink and put it back on the table.
"Not even any flavoring".
---
Ben. I know that it's him. I have heard of this before in some small towns, and three months ago in Chicago. I actually got a picture from a friend in Chicago of the barcode. I don't know why he is doing this, re-acting that day.
I have went to places he has been, hiding what I can from Lydecker. I know that if Deck thinks that Ben is unable to be saved, too far-gone, he will kill him.
Rae slipped on to her motorcycle and started it, accelerating down the alleyway.
I can't let that happen, I need to find my big brother- and try to help him. To stop him before he goes too far.
"Dr Larter, thanks for coming". Rae nodded and shook Green's hand.
"It's no problem, can I see the bodies?" Green led her to the morgue, the difference between this hospital and the one Rae worked at was that this morgue was not just for dead patients. This one was for all dead people found in Miami and it was large.
"The cause of death in each patient was a snapped neck between the first and second vertebrae. This could only have been done by someone with an amazing upper body strength as I indicated in the report I sent out". Rae's head snapped up.
"What?"
Green winced. "Yeah, I was then contacted by some agency who told me to keep the bodies off the record and that they would be here tomorrow to collect them. Some Donald… Lydecker I think. So we will keep you seeing the bodies between us- I don't want to get fired or worse". Rae nodded, with short felt relief. So Lydecker would definitely be in Miami tomorrow.
"Then why did you show me?"
'I just can't hand the bodies over without getting a second opinion, to try to keep them here so this crime can be solved rather than swept away".
"I'd drop this" Rae cautioned, her voice strong. "Those government… types can make people disappear. Pick fights you can win". Green seemed to be fighting something. Rae knew that he was into all that freedom of the press things. Had heard him on the phone talking to someone about something 'Eyes Only' would want to know about.
'Okay" Green said after a minute, in a defeated tone." But it's a sad day Rachel when justice is not only denied but actively prevented".
Rae gave a sad look. "I hear you. So what else was uniformed about the bodies".
"In each case, something appears to have been ripped off the victim's neck. All the other things are standard. Defensive wounds… I really hope this person gets stopped".
---
"Colonel Lydecker, the helicopter's ready for you". Lydecker walked side by side with Sandoval and nodded at the messenger. It was just on dusk, and the light was receding fast from Seattle. Lydecker was dealing with the situation in Miami, Rae and Ben in hand rather than returning to Manticore to interrogate Zack.
Zack had attempted to kill himself and the crew of the helicopter he was on and was still healing.
"You do realize that she won't be happy when you don't turn up for that meeting sir" said Sandoval nervously.
"Well you will be there in my place and if she complains tell her I at least am doing my job" said Lydecker with a trace of annoyance in his voice and Sandoval was already trying to figure out a way to reword it.
They walked outside the building and by the helicopter a young man stood next to the solider guard. He snapped to attention.
"X5 494 reporting for duty, sirs". 494 was the twin X5 of Ben and already had four successful solo missions under his list of accomplishment besides his unit's missions. Although there was the failure of his one and only deep cover op, he had been released by psy ops recently, reindoctrinated. 494 also was the only transgenic qualified for this mission. He was in an all black special ops uniform for the flight.
"At ease solider" Lydecker commanded, already dismissing Sandoval. "Do you know what your mission is?"
494 spoke instantly, without a trace of hesitation." To impersonate X5 493 sir and use his persona to locate and gain the trust of the rogue X5 478 in order to bring her in as well as determine whether she is in contact with X5 600 sir!"
"Let's move out". Lydecker climbed into the chopper and was shortly followed by 494. The helicopter took off fast and flew into the sky.
---
Scott just sat in the church watching his hands. When he had been nine, his parents had died when the world trade centers had been attacked in New York. How confused and upset he was then, was all coming back. Scott's grandfather had taken him in, the only relative to care what happened to him.
His Grandfather had been the one he went to talk to about things even after he moved out. Scott had talked with him about his career, Piper and Rae his best friends and what his latest favorite science fiction topic was.
Scott remembered the way his grandfather's eyes would sparkle when he heard about his friends, the people he saved, Star Trek, anything that meant something to Scott. Now it was over.
"Are you okay?" A young man sat next to him, with not so much concern but curiosity in those hazel eyes. Scott involuntarily shivered.
"Yes, I am going to wait outside for my friend now". Scott walked out, seeing Rae sitting on the step next to her motorcycle. The setting sun illuminated her features, which seemed saddened by something. For a second it was if she were a complete stranger, somebody else.
"Rae?"
She turned and Scott was relieved when the look to her face vanished.
"Hey are you-" Rae froze in place and Scott turned the man with the eerie eyes walked past them, glancing at her and then running off into the growing darkness. All that would have made that man creepier for Scott would have been his eyes glowing.
"Ben" Rae whispered as he vanished. She wanted to go after him, but she couldn't. Her responsibility right now was her friend, already in a fragile state today. One of her brothers that close, a sibling so close she could have touched him. And Rae doubted she could hold her own against Ben, at least right now.
"Do you know him?" asked Scott, an inquisitive look on his face. The look of longing that had been there for a second seemed to have shown the stranger again. The Rae he didn't know.
"No, he just reminded me of someone". Scott knew Rae was lying and she knew that he knew she was lying. Rae sighed and changed the subject. "Let's go". She wanted at that moment to explain it all to Scott. The genetically enhanced bit, Ben all of it. But Rae couldn't have a moment of weakness, considering who was after her.
And more importantly the people Rae didn't know about.
---
The shift had been a few hours longer than normal, Larson's way of getting extra work since Rae had not returned or been seen since lunch. Jaye walked out of the hospital, a small backpack slung over one shoulder.
Rae had left him a message on his cell, to tell Larson she wouldn't be back in that day- to make an excuse. Her own explanation to him had been sketchy for her. Rae was one of those people who paid attention to the details. Something about Ben, one of her brothers and a problem.
Jaye knew who Ben was. Rae had told him all the names of her brother and sisters just in case something went wrong. 493 had some wires loose and not in a good way. He was worried that her brother would affect Rae's normally good judgement.
"Hey Jaye!" Piper was running out, and caught up to him. Jaye stopped and looked at her. That was another thing he didn't get about Rae. Her friends were the biggest liability in her life, but she valued them so strongly as if she needed the connection to people.
Piper spoke before she thought, and was irritatingly cheerful at times. Scott was introverted when he was not around people he was close to and obsessive over both things that were just make believe as well as playing amateur Sherlock Holmes. Jaye just didn't get what qualities they had that would make Rae risk exposure. But despite their idiosyncrasies, there was something about being close to them that felt right to him.
"Piper, what's wrong?" Piper just shook her head, and linked her arms with him. Jaye stiffened but allowed her to do this. It was hard to get used to the contact with ordinary people; he had less contact with his own unit before all this.
He was trying hard not to think about them, about how his CO, X5 243 felt about his deflection, if she now loathed him, saw him as a traitor. If she never wanted to see him again, or the rest of his unit felt that way.
"It has occurred to me that you are new to our fair city and the fun to be had," Piper said, pulling her hair out. The dark curls fell against her face. "So tonight you are coming with me and I am going to show you some fun Miami style"
Jaye frowned and tilted his head. "Why?" Piper laughed.
"Cause judging by your expression it is clearly a foreign concept, so come on or I'll have to drag you". She tuned and headed to the staff parking, expecting him to follow. Jaye hesitated and followed a heartbeat later. Rae was telling him to act more human and this was the perfect opportunity.
---
Rae dropped Scott off at the base of their apartment building. "You going to be okay? Because, I could stay with you". There was a slight sound of reluctance in her voice and Scott was surprised. Apart from her refusal to discuss her life before she had came here, Rae was generally a good friend who was there when you needed her. It was not something connecting to that man at the church that was distracting her. It was something else altogether.
Maybe it was just his own desire to try to ignore the fact his grandfather was dead but, Scott felt as if Rae was hiding something big.
"No, you go, I'll be fine". Rae nodded and prepared to ride off but then glanced at him, she looked tired. There seemed to be invisible lines under her green eyes, although he had never seen Rae have lines. It was just her expression.
"If you need to talk, I am here". Scott gave a small smile and nodded. Rae rode off and Scott entered the building. A thought entered his mind and he slapped it away but the thought came back. What if he checked out Rae's room, there had to be answers in there. Rachel Larter was easy to live with but point blank never let anybody in her room. Scott felt bad for even thinking of it; it would be a violation of Rae's privacy and trust.
But the stupid voice in his head, the one that had always gotten him into trouble as a kid, suspecting innocent neighbours were terrorists, sprang up now asking why Rae kept her life before so secret.
That he had a right to know more about her.
Scott walked up the apartment stairs to the third floor and stepped out. He pulled his key out of pocket to open the door but it opened by itself and Piper stepped out followed by Jaye.
"Hey Scott, you 'kay. I'm taking Jaye down to one of the beach events, you want to come to take your mind off things?" Scott shook his head and smiled apologetically at Piper.
'No, but thanks anyway". Piper smiled and pulled Jaye out with her who looked like he was seriously regretted something. Scott was too distracted to try to help him.
Scott stood in the now empty apartment and heard Piper's voice grow softer and softer. He looked at Rae's door. Would he, or wouldn't he? That seemed to be the no win question.
---
Rae parked her bike just outside the small house that served as an unofficial clinic. As she slid off the bike, a seizure hit her body and Rae fell to her knees. When it had past, Rae walked into the house without knocking.
A dark haired Hispanic woman in her forties glared at her in a show of annoyance rather than really being annoyed. "Chica, when are you going to learn to knock on that front door?"
Rae gave a grin that was more of a grimace. "When my body stops screwing up".
The woman smiled and strode over and hugged her. "How longs it been". Rae shrugged as she pulled away.
"Four months since the last time". Generally three times a year, Rae's body would hit a rough patch with her seizures that she couldn't just use tryptophan to fix it. It had something to do with the chemical in her brain that made her serotonin level dip below that of most X5's. But on these occasions her body would produce almost none, putting her into the risk the worse it got, of getting a Grand Mal seizure that could land her into a coma or kill her.
Mari Sanchez was a doctor and had been married to a Manticore scientist. When he had quit because he couldn't take the unethical practices of what they did, Lydecker had him killed.
Rae had met her initially when discovering what was wrong with her seizures and Marie had helped her with the problems they brought ever since
"I'll just get it ready, just go and change" Rae gave a clearly exhausted smile and went into a room off the side and took her clothes off, changing into a hospital gown. She hadn't told Jaye, so it would not worry him- it was too much to tell him just yet. And Rae did not want him to think she was weak.
---
Scott felt terrible as he opened Rae's door, and he almost stepped back and forgot the whole thing. But the stupid part of his mind urged him forward and walked inside her room. The shape was a carbon copy to his, small rectangular like he had thought it would be. It was neat and generally not cluttered, his room was cluttered and Piper's looked as if the pulse went off there.
Rae's bed had a simple dark blue quilt over it and a pillow at the head. Next to the bed was a small nightstand. One the nightstand was a clip on light with a small bottle of pills, half full next to it. Scott frowned and picked the bottle up. Tryptophan, why did Rae have a health food supplement in her room? A small piece of information filtered through his mind, tryptophan was also used in homeopathy to control seizures.
And Rae did shake sometimes, but she had always said it was because she had a high metabolic rate. The more Scott thought about it, it had been a weak excuse. But what could he have known? Rae always went to her room or out if she shook. And why lie about some medical condition? It just didn't make any sense.
Scott noticed a box sticking out from under Rae's bed. He frowned and tugged it out and placed it on the bed. Are you willing to risk Rae's privacy and her friendship on some stupid feeling? He hesitated in opening it, maybe there was a reason she was so private about her life, how was it her business. Then Scott remembered the stranger in Rae, he wanted to know her and be friends with the whole Rae -not just a mask.
Opening the box, the first thing Scott saw was a plain black folder. He picked it up and opened it. It was organized into neat sections and Rae's tiny scrawl marked the start of each section. Well the only place to start is the beginning.
---
Jaye thought he had hated psychological warfare, all that analyzing and all that psychological babble. But Jaye hated something even more than that.
The section of the Miami's famous beaches they were in was full of people. People playing volleyball, people swimming, drinking and basically having an all night party.
"Don't Scott and Rae come with you normally?" asked Jaye with distaste in his voice.
Piper grinned and sipped her tequila sunrise. "No, Scott refuses to come to this things and Rae says it's more fun to have a quiet time when you come to the beach. Can you believe that?" Oh Jaye could believe it. And he was so leaving. Piper looked at him with wide eyes and a look that can best be described as the kicked puppy dog. "Come on, don't bail".
Jaye scowled. "This isn't my idea of fun". Piper rolled her eyes and stared up at him.
"What is, going to bed on time like a good little boy?" Jaye bristled. Who was insulting him? The ever-happy social butterfly that seemed to never have a serious expression on her face. Always revved and ready to go. Piper smiled at his expression and sighed.
"Now look, I asked you here so I could get to know you. You have become Rae's friend really fast, which I was surprised at. Rae knocked out the last intern assigned to her" Piper put her drink down. "So could you please try?"
Try again, 600.
But it's so hard for me, its easy for you you're the CO
He was not giving this a chance. And of course Piper cared, she was Rae's best friend. Someone to look out for Rae just like Scott. Someone to be there for her. And suddenly Jaye realized a little something about why these people were Rae's friends.
Jaye nodded. "Okay".
---
Rae was laying on the doctor's table on her stomach, with her head propped up by her arms. Her body was periodically shaking, something she had hid up until this point.
"Normally you call before this, I was afraid that Manticore had caught you". Rae shook her head.
"Manticore, catch me? Now that is a stretch of the imagination" Rae said calmly with a twitch to her lips. Mari fixed her with a stern set to her face.
"Don't get complacent Chica, not for a second you hear? The young transgenic nodded and looked up, sharing a look with the older woman. They both knew Rae was complacent, and it was how she dealt with her past. Tried to have an ordinary life to the hardest of her abilities. And on some level Rae knew it was probably going to cost her freedom one day.
"I hear you. So let's get this hell over with". Rae put her head down and laid her arms flat. Mari restrained them as well as the legs to the side, for both Rae's treatment and her own protection.
Next she picked up a cerebro-spinal syringe and lined it along Rae's spine. The she stuck it in hard and slowly, the liquid in the syringe draining.
Rae let out a an unearthly scream of intense pain that seemed to go on forever even though it only lasted the few minutes the syringe was their. Her limbs involuntarily lashed out, held back by the restraints.
"Thank you" Rae said smiling weakly as she walked to her motorcycle and sat on it. Mari just folded her arms.
"Remember to stick clear of any confrontations for the next few days. Your body is still recovering from its serotonin deficiency and you won't be able to hold your own in a fight like you normally would".
"Okay, I will do that". If Ben cooperated, that was. Mari stood back as Rae, put her helmet on, started her bike and rode down the street. She felt tired, but she was happy to have that over. The worst, most painful place Rae had ever been in Manticore, this went beyond that. Rae could be unconscious for the procedure but it was a risk she had never cared to take. No one in her position and in the right mind would put their life completely in hands of another. Even if you trusted that person.
Increasing the speed, Rae flitted in and out of the traffic. A few of the motorists swore violently and she just smiled. None of the dirty streets seemed to annoy her; the depression that riddled Miami for a moment it didn't matter. Going full throttle into the parking area for the apartment, Rae braked hard stopping inches from the wall.
Rae slipped off her helmet and walked up the stairs, keeping a hand near the rail. Inserting the key into the apartment door, it clicked and Rae walked inside. She was surprised by how dark it was.
Her sensitive eyes focused on Scott in the dark, holding something- her information folder. Rae froze, stunned. Everything in there was about Manticore, her, everything. Rae had decided not to keep the files on computer, in case Manticore gained access. A hard copy was that much easier to get rid of. But Rae was regretting that decision. She flicked on the light and looked at Scott.
"You went through my room". Scott gave her a sad smile.
"I wish I hadn't. But that's the thing about knowledge, it can't be unlearned like a mind wipe in the X Files. It just stays there". Rae turned around and swallowed hard and then turned back to him.
"How much do you know".
"That," Scott said. "You are not human. At first it seemed like a cruel joke and then I realized it was for real. You are not a person; you are some kind of walking weapons system. You can't even feel anything can you?" Rae flinched as if he had hit her.
"I am a person as well Scott, you don't understand" Rae glared and Scott felt her rage from there and stepped back." If you read a lot of that file you would know just the facts. Here is something else. When I was only eight and a half, the man you read about Colonel Lydecker, shot my older sister Eva. I saw my sister's body fall to the ground, and believe me I felt something. Oh yes when I found out my brother Jack got dissected like a lab rat I felt more than just something". Rae spun on her heel and ran from the apartment.
"Rae!" Jaye walked past her, half carrying a drunk but happy Piper who was singing. Jaye looked at Scott as he let go of Piper and she stumbled to her room. "What is going on?"
"I took one plus one and got eleven".
---
It was approaching dawn and the building where Manticore had temporarily set up shop in Miami was white and non-descript from outside.
Inside was a whole different matter, and was buzzing with activity and equipment.
A scientist attached a small piece of what seemed to be tissue to 494's barcode and pressed. The tissue seemed now to be skin and obscure the last number of the barcode turning it from a four to a three. Lydecker watched with interest and an aide approached him.
"Sir, the director's on the satellite link and she isn't that happy". Lydecker gave a look of resignation and went with the aide, going into the video conference room. The aide left and closed the door behind him.
The woman on screen had light blond platinum hair and dark, hard brown eyes. She was in her late forties, and was the director of her Manticore facility and was technically Lydecker's superior although she couldn't actually make him do anything.
"Deck, I expected you here for this meeting. Not off vacationing in Miami of all places." Lydecker resisted in urge to insult her, someone with a bad record of her own in more recent times. And with an adult X5.
"I am here tracking down X5 478 and X5 493 as you know from the reports".
"For some reason Deck" said Elizabeth Renfro leaning forward. "They, for the last few weeks have been misplaced and I have only had the barest of details. I don't suppose you would have any idea how that happened?"
"I wouldn't" Lydecker answered, "You would have to check your own staff for that" Renfro seemed to let it go.
"So do we think 493 is in Miami because of 478?" Lydecker shook his head.
"No. My best guess is it was just by chance. But Ra-478, will most likely try to make contact with him, to try to stop him". Renfro caught his slip of the tongue and smiled.
"Oh I forget Deck, you like to call them the names they gave each other." The scorn in the woman's voice was apparent. Renfro leaned forward. "I think I'll head to Miami, and help you. After all the rogue X5s are a top priority." The screen disconnected when Renfro made a chopping motion in the background. Lydecker was not happy. Renfro had started taking a high level of interest in his kids, and he knew from experience with her that was not a good thing.
So the faster 494 captured Rae, the better.
---
Rae was sitting on a bench near a beachfront, the sun already getting high in the sky. It was by all accounts a beautiful Miami day. It was Saturday so the beaches were full of people there for a good time.
You can't feel anything, can you?
Rae had sat there all night, not really moving. She couldn't forget the look on Scott's face that betrayed look, as if she was- Rae bit her lip and closed her eyes. It just hurt too much, the rejection and she hugged her legs closer to her body.
"Rae" She turned around and Ben stood there, a few metres away.
"I thought I was going to have to chase you all over Miami" Rae said taking a step closer. Her brother's serious face looked uncharacteristically light and Rae hugged him. She glanced at his barcode and then smiled apologetically at him.
"I am sorry Ben, can't be too careful. I know that you have a clone from Jaye".
494 almost breathed out in relief, but reminded his self to stay in character. According to 493/Ben's psychological profile he was more serious and quiet.
"Jaye?" he asked with a more of a focus in his voice.
"He is Zack's clone, can we go somewhere more quiet to talk Ben. Lydecker is here and I don't want to tip him off.
494 smiled. "Of course". This was too easy, soon he'd be kicking it with Biggs and hoping that they would have a mission in Dakota again soon so they could see Lola again.
---
Scott sat, uncomfortable in Jaye's car. Jaye had his eyes to the road and looked to be barely restraining his anger. His car was an old beat up black jeep.
"Which church did you see Ben at?" His tone was terse and Jaye barely even looked at him and kept his dark green eyes on the road. He had blown up at Scott. Any negative feelings Scott had towards Rae had dissipated, he had always seen himself as a very understanding person.
Scott had always been furious when he watched science fiction shows the X Men especially. He had never understood why humans hated mutants so much, had hated the people trying to make it worse. And Scott had been as bad as any of those racist monsters. He was still angry at Rae for lying to him but most of all Scott was angry at himself.
"At the one my grandfather's funeral was held". Jaye nodded sharply and turned the car violently and sped down the street.
"Why are we going there?"
"Because" spat Jaye, "Rae sent me a message that she was talking to Ben. No thanks there to you". Scott looked out the window uncomfortably.
"How was I supposed to react? Oh Rachel Larter, you are a genetically engineered soldier, way to go! Let's get out the balloons and streamers", Scott rubbed his eyes.
"You are supposed to be one of the people closest to her" Jaye said with gritted teeth. "Now I may be new to the having friends concept but you are supposed to be understanding?"
"It's a little more complicated than that. She never trusted me or Piper, anybody enough to tell them the truth". Jaye parked the car outside the church and turned to Scott.
"I don't know why Rae kept it a secret or why she didn't tell you. You can ask her that once we find her".
Jaye and Scott walked into the church. Up near the altar, Ben was placing something there and looking up at the statue of the Virgin Mary. He turned and caught sight of them. He tried to run out the door but Jaye jumped on top of him and pinned him down.
"Ben" Jaye yelled. "We need to know where Rae is". Ben gave him a dark look.
"Do you believe in the lady?" Jaye put a vicegrip on Ben's throat, making it difficult for him to breathe. No one was in the main area of the church, which stopped any awkward questions or looks. Scott just hoped no one looked in or they would be serious trouble
"Don't screw with me Ben, where is your sister? I know she came to see you". Ben pushed him off, coughing.
"I have not talked to Rae at all." Ben, said, a note of concern entering his in Scott's opinion, creepy serious voice. Jaye looked at Scott and he frowned.
"If you are a clone of Zack then couldn't the person Rae saw be a twin of uh…him," Scott was afraid, the looks Ben were sending him were terrifying. Jaye's expression fell in dismay. Ben did have a twin.
"494- it's a trap. And Rae's in the middle of it" Jaye got up and sprinted toward the door and paused. "Scott, let's go, you too Ben. What were you doing in there?"
"Making the lady strong, she needs the teeth of the faithful to keep her strong". Jaye looked disgusted and Scott felt his stomach heave,
"How will we know where they went? "Asked Scott avoiding looking at Ben as he slid in the front passenger seat.
"Where would you go to get away from people, a secluded spot?"
"The old power station just outside the city, there's a area that is real isolated from the road". Jaye nodded sharply, they would just have to hope that was the right place. If they called Rae, even if they got through to her, 494 could overhear the conversation and they would have TAC teams on their tail. He looked at his companions, Scott- a human doctor who seemed to be distracted by his own issues and Ben an X5 psychopath who killed people so he could take their teeth to make the 'lady' strong.
Jaye hoped to hell that Manticore was not already there.
---
The old PowerStation was next to a large river and the place looked like a riot hit it. The bridge there was old and broken, running along the power station and then across the river. There was metal wiring stopping things from getting under the bridge that was rusted. The pulse had hit the station and people had destroyed what the pulse hadn't, in rage for it failing.
"When I meant more quiet, I didn't mean the middle of nowhere". Rae felt weird, like something was really off. Her instincts were telling her something was off. Lydecker had always taught them was that 99 of the time; a good soldiers instincts were right on. That if something felt wrong, it was wrong.
Ben had been quiet the whole way on the bus and even walking to this spot only talking to insist that this was the 'safest' place. Rae saw a small old scar just above his barcode-
There hadn't been a scar there yesterday.
She was a fool. It was really all too easy to change someone's barcode temporarily. So if this was not Ben then it was- a hand blurred and Rae felt a sharp jab at her side. Ben's twin pushed down the plunger for the needle.
"You're not Ben".
There was a smile. "No, I am the loveable and completely sane 494. You are the rogue X5 478 and must I say, has grown up to be quite the looker. But hey, it's in the genes". Rae flung a leg out and kicked him away and pulled the needle out.
"I am awake, some type of psychoactive?" Rae asked. 494 just smirked at her, assured of his position.
"Too bad it doesn't work on me," Rae said smiling and crushed the syringe with her hand. 494's expression faded and he assumed a battle ready position. Rae was tired and still recovering from yesterday. But she matched him.
"Walk away," warned Rae. 494 laughed and punched out, Rae blocked him, her arms hurting from the effort. She swung a leg to hit him in his weak male spot but 494 grabbed her leg and flipped it. Rae fell on her back and sprang up. She turned faster than 494 could track and ran towards the unstable bridge. 494 took after her.
Rae was smaller, lighter and faster but 494 was in perfect condition and training, it made them even. She stepped on the old bridge and it groaned, shaking.
"Don't do anything stupid 478. Come on Manticore is not that bad". Rae edged further onto the bridge.
494 groaned and stepped onto the bridge. Rae backed slowly away and held the rails tight.
"They will go a hell of a lot easier on you if you hand yourself in".
"Only in a completely wrong parallel universe" Rae said, and smiled slightly. She picked too much up from Scott, and now she needed to get through this to fix their friendship.
494 hit Rae hard in the stomach and she stepped back hard, the wind knocked out of her. The plank flipped and hit Rae on the back of the head and she blacked out. She fell into the water, under the bridge through the opening.
"Shit" 494 swore colorfully and tried to rip the board back up. An X5 could stay over five minutes underwater if need be, but that was holding your breath and fully conscious. Damn 478's stubbornness. What was with the stupid 0'Niners and their melodramatic death rather than capture. The board came up and was stuck slightly on a tire that was in the water. 494 pushed it harder in frustration and paused looking into the water. A car had breached the wall of the power plant; there was another way to get to her. 494 ran across the bridge, so fast causing it to crack in several places.
He ran through a broken door and climbed down the metal stairs where water had collected and the truck was in part of the hole. 494 dove into the water, holding his breath. One of 478's legs was under wheel, keeping her from floating to the surface. He swam over and pulled her by the arms, making sure he was not just holding her black cotton jacket. She came free and 494 pulled her back through the hole and out of the water.
494 dragged her outside into the light and put her down. She was not breathing. All of a sudden a force threw 494 off his feet and he flew several feet away. 494 found himself looking into the face of his twin whose features were filled with rage. Jaye held Ben back. "No, he is not worth it right now".
Scott, who had been waiting in the car, got out and ran to Rae. "Rachel, no don't do this, not now".
494 froze, memories freezing him where he was. "In case you hadn't noticed, I've been sort of throwing myself at you for the past few weeks". The pool, Rachel's smile, " Don't you like me?" " I like you." Sandoval. " Have you been briefed on your target, X5-494?" "I like you a lot." "Your only thought is to follow our orders." "Because if for some reason we lost confidence in you...we'd have no need for you." "I love you" Rachel slapped him. The car burst into flames. Psy ops. In the basement with the other Manticore mistakes. "Rachel!"
"She's not breathing, but there's still a pulse". Scott put his mouth to Rae's, breathing out and then glanced at Rae's chest, counting. "One, two," Scott repeated the process several times before Rae suddenly coughed out a mouthful of water. 494 inhaled sharply from where he was sitting on the ground.
Rae opened her eyes slightly for a moment and gave a weak smile, before closing them again. Scott grinned looked up. "She is going to be okay". Ben gave 494 a dark look who was still looking dazed.
---
"I am sorry I did not tell you" Rae said softly. She was sitting in Jaye's car just outside an abandoned warehouse Ben had asked to be dropped off at. A blanket was over her. Ben had promised to leave the city, and Jaye had added when Rae had been asleep, not to come back. 494 was sitting in the back with Scott, his hands and everything else pretty well tied up. They didn't know what to do with him. 494 had seen Scott's face, Rae's face and had heard too much to just let him be.
Scott looked down. "You probably had your reasons" Rae shook her head.
"I did the wrong thing for all the right reasons. A friendship is based on trust, not someone lying because she was afraid that her friends would never look at her the same way".
"Not a chance" Scott said, clasping Rae's hand. Her smile widened Scott and his alien friendship handshakes.
"Oh please, what's next the secret handshake?" asked 494, sarcastically, grinning at his own remark. Rae's eyes darkened and she looked at the back seat.
"Be quiet 494".
Scott frowned. "We can't keep calling him a number, it sounds too weird- you and Jaye have names". 494 rolled his eyes and his head in the back of his seat, hard considering he was pretty well secured.
"Jaye named himself, and my sister Tinga named me when I was four" Rae grinned. "We could call him Baka, the Japanese word for idiot".
Jaye walked back to them, having heard the conversation. Ben drove off in a car and waved to Rae with a serious expression. She dipped her head slightly.
"How about Alec as in smart aleck?" Scott unsuccessfully hid his smile and Rae nodded.
"Thus forth, thy name is Alec".
494/ Alec gave a look that said he thought they were crazy. Jaye had a predatory look in his eyes and whispered something in Alec's ear, too softly for anyone to hear it but Alec. Alec went white slightly.
"Alec is fine" he grumbled.
---
Rae was laying on the depilated sofa in the middle of the main room of their apartment and Scott was out of sight in his room when Piper walked in.
"Where were you two all day?" Piper asked. "Larson was asking and for some reason he got cranky when I said you had been abducted by aliens. And you look like hell Rae".
Rae sat up and looked over at Piper. If today had taught her anything it was that the truth would come out one way or another and again if today was any judge that was a bad thing.
"I need to tell you something". Piper walked over, and she leaned on the sofa's edge. Rae sighed, and then looked Piper in the eye. "You know how I am not exactly normal, well I am not. I am a genetically enhanced super solider escaped from a government lab over ten years ago"
Now Rae had expected to hear that laugh, as if Piper thought she was joking. Or to have to explain it better. But Piper laughed softly and looked down. And when she looked up, Rae noticed that her friend was biting her lip.
"I know already, I looked through your room last year and found stuff and put it together alright?" Rae raised her eyebrows in shock.
"You knew!"
"Well remember when I was a little weird 'round you around midway last year?" Rae nodded and leaned forward, listening. "When I found out, I got a little weirded out, but I figured out even if you are different, you were still the Rae I have always cared about like family and set up with blind dates. And I just knew one day you'd tell me when you were ready". Rae's smile went so wide that all her teeth were visible. Scott poked his head out and stared at Piper.
"You don't have a thing for privacy do you?"
"Not really" said Piper shrugging. She then narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled. "And how did you find out?"
Scott opened his mouth and all that came out was a half mumbled which included words such as 'pain in the-' and other such delightful praises. Rae stood, bracing her self and hugged Piper.
Piper gave a questioning look and Rae smiled. "For being my friend, despite everything". Piper made a crazy sign towards her head
'I would be your friend if you were anything… as long as you never turned into Larson". Rae laughed and threw a pillow weakly at Piper who ducked.
---
Lydecker was standing, staring out the window with a pensive look on his face. 494 had gone missing, in the end they had found Ben's abandoned hide out after the fourth body had been discovered. Rae had somehow won against 494 after he had sent a message here that he had met with her.
Even though Lydecker had failed, he felt a rush of pride if not Ben's getaway, at Rae's success. It proved that she had not forgotten everything.
"Good evening Deck", Renfro walked in and the sat herself at his desk. "I hear things didn't go to plan." Lydecker didn't turn.
"478 proved more resourceful than we had first fought. All that is required it that we amend our approach". Renfro stood and folded her arms, and joined him
"How do we do that" Renfro asked, looked at him.
"By finding her weak spot. No one is without their weaknesses, not even my kids. Her weak spot will be her undoing"
"I hope so," Renfro said with a slightly threatening tone to her voice as she left the room and Lydecker continued to contemplate the city. It seemed all the younger of his kids; Max, Krit, Rae and before his capture Kavi, needed to stay in one place. Needed the connection. Most of the older ones migrated constantly, making them hard to pin down. Zack had handed himself in, to save Max from capture. But this time Lydecker was going to make sure that when he sprung the trap, this time Rae would not get away.
---
Jaye was in his apartment, it's walls covered with graffiti but other than that it was in fine condition. He was pouring over a medical textbook that Larson had given him. Jaye had gone to apologize for missing work, the medical supervisor had given him the five hundred odd page textbook and said they would talk about what it had in it in the morning. And if Jaye didn't, Larson had promised a very, very unpleasant day.
"Is this really necessary" drawled a sarcastic voice. Alec was tied to a chair that he had nailed down to the floor and was in Jaye's opinion the only move to make.
Jaye closed the text and looked over at Alec. 'Why did you stop when Scott called Rae 'Rachel'". Alec snorted derisively, but a look of pain entered his eyes for an instant.
"No I didn't"
Jaye dropped the issue and looked at Alec who just rolled his eyes and complained about the old, ill functioning TV and about being stuck watching police arrest shows and the news. There was something underneath it all, Alec's attitude everything. Something underneath it all.
What did Manticore do to you?
---
So Ben is gone and I have lost the chance to try to help him. I have to live with that, without my family like I have since the escape. But Piper's right, we are like family, me, Scott, her and Jaye. The old cliché is right, the truth does set you free- kind of. I can't try to be ordinary around them, but maybe that's the point. I am never going to be another face on the street but I can be me.
Alec's a bit of a mystery, he went strange when I was called Rachel. What about that name set him off too bad? What is it about his past and that name?
Whatever the reason, I have to deal with what's happening now. With the people I care about, I am going to get through whatever comes my way. Lydecker has already failed there, because to them I am as good as human.
T.B.C
Alec in the story was a spur of the moment idea by the way.
Anyway for those who want a face to the characters and have missed episodes here are the people who are the face of the main characters; Eliza Dunzhu/Piper, Corin Nemec/Scott, Anthony Stewart Head/Larson, Jensen Ackles/ Ben and Alec, William Gregory Lee/ Jaye, John Savage/Lydecker, Nana Visitor/Renfro and finally Rae/Milla Jovovich (the pics where she had brown hair). And Jaye's name for Alec: Tray as in Cas'tray'ted, yes he has a bad sense of humor.