LilyPad – You hit the nail on the head. Alec is a little boy compared to Logan. Thanks for reviewing.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything! If I did I wouldn't be writing this.
BAG 'EM
"They were wearing robes?" Logan queried.
"Yep. Long brown ones. Hoods and all," Max recalled the image of the people in the forest and shuddered, "Logan, I could have died. There were too many of them. If it weren't for that one girl I would have been a kebab… And you would have died."
Max trailed off and tried not to think about the virus that was keeping her on the other side of the room and not in her loves arms.
"Well I could call some of my contacts but I've never heard of a group like this. Are you sure they aren't Manticore?"
Max shook her head, "They would have killed me."
"Well they obviously know about the transgenics and that could be a threat," Logan leant on his computer desk.
"I just want to know who that girl is," Max's memory of the green-eyed girl was vivid.
"Well I'm guessing that they have an outlet near the forest because unless they are ghost they would have to have a location pretty near by for them to disappear like that."
"I just can't help wondering where she is," Max mused.
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The X6s tramped through the woods. They were confused and disorientated. They had run during the fire. They had hid, fearing the worst, knowing that Manticore had been under attack. Then, finally, they saw the signal flashing right now among the stars.
"We have to keep moving. If Manticore's under attack, they'll be looking for us to remobilize," One of the boys took command.
"Look, He said pointing at the flashing signal in the sky to reassure his unit, "There it is - the rendezvous signal."
"I don't know about this," One girl piped up.
"You saw the signal. We're supposed to regroup," The leader didn't turn around or even pause in his stride.
"But the other night . . . the fire . . . no one came to let us out of the barracks," The girl pressed, doubtful of Manticore's intention.
"Ever think maybe they were busy defending the facility? Manticore was under attack. By who, we don't know, but obviously command is still in place, otherwise there wouldn't have been a signal," He cut her off immediately.
"But the tacs - they were shooting at us," She still wasn't satisfied.
"Not at us. They were protecting the perimeter. I mean, sure, we took some friendly fire, that's all. Now come on - we've still got ten clicks to cover."
The girl shrugged and gave up the argument, falling in behind another girl in her unit. They arrived at the bridge. The air was sharp but there were Manticore guards standing with a well-dressed man.
"There they are. We're going home," The leader whispered happily to his companions, "X6-314 reporting for duty, sir."
"At ease, soldier," The man in black said. He nodded to the guards and walked away. The X6s back up slowly looking in disbelief at the guns pointed at them. The leader realised right then that he had failed the group. The girl who had questioned him reached forward in an unusual display and grasped his hand. They were terrified. Just as the guards looked like they were about to pull the triggers. Shapes came flying out of the trees.
One girl, only a couple of years older than them, used the rope attached to a branch to launch herself onto the bridge from a nearby tree. The rope was coiled tightly around her leg and she kicked it off as she landed on the bridge in between the transgenics and the soldiers. She pulled her sword out of the sheath attached to her side.
The X6s stared in shock as the robed figures filled the bridge. Separating them from the guns.
The girl walked forward, her green eyes flashing, and pointed her sword at one of the gunmen, "You really do not want to do that."
He narrowed his eyes and moved the gun so it point at her. She ducked under it and grabbed the end with one hand. She twisted the gun in his hands so he was forced to let it go. She then threw it back to one of the X6s. She then ran his sword through the guard's gut.
"I warned you," She murmured grimily to the man as he fell, "Cover us," She shouted back to the X6s.
Around her, her friends fought the others. They were either incapacitated or eliminated. Eventually all the men were down, dead or unconscious and the 6 X6s were holding new weapons.
The girl wiped her bloody sword on her robe. She walked towards the X6s pulling her hood back as she went.
"We can't stay here. The one black thinks you are dead. He left before he could see otherwise. But it will not be long before these men wake up and inform him of what happened. What are your names?"
"X6-314" The leader began.
"No. The ones you gave each other," She paused when they looked blankly at each other, "You did not name each other?"
"We have to go," One of the other robed men came forward.
The girl held up her hand to tell him to wait, "There are eight of you? I will name you. You, you're the leader who didn't listen to the girl. I'll name you Aralt. It is Irish for leader. You are the one who figured out what really happened at Manticore. Saw the truth. You are Lisha, Meaning truth."
The pair smiled at each other. They liked those names. The girl paused in front of a girl with hair so blond it was almost white, "I am going to call you Manar. Light!"
The next was a boy with dark hair, "Raven. It is obvious why!"
A boy with blue eyes that reminded her off the sky on a beautiful day stood off to the left, "Skye."
There was one last boy. He had been standing to the left, watching the whole thing with interest. Of all the X6s he appeared to be taking the whole event in his stride. He was like an inquisitive little puppy. He was a watcher. "You are Tor. Because you watch.
That left two girls left. The robed woman examined the first one. She stood strong in front of the piercing green eyes and demonstrated a deal of pride. Her spirit flashed in her eyes.
"This is easy. I name you Isa. Strong willed. That just leaves one last one."
This last girl hid away from her gaze. She didn't have any distinguishing features and shyly looked away.
"I can't think of any name that seems to apply to you," The woman mused as the girl looked disappointed. The robed woman smiled slowly.
"Mai! It means growth. I think you have yet to grow into your self."
"You have named them all now! Satisfied? Can we just go now?" The same man from before spoke up.
"Fine. We are leaving," And with that the girl strode off.
"Wait," Aralt called after her, "what's your name?"
"Lady," She called back and kept walking.
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Lady was doing an interesting combination sit up. Her legs were raised and bent in the air and every time she brought her body up she touched an elbow to the opposite knee. She could feel all the muscles in her body working. The sweat was pouring off and her shoulders were shiny.
The lose fitting training pants were clinging to her now and her bar straps slid across her skin as she paused to peal of her shirt in the training room. She returned to her work out. She paused and held her legs suspended in mid air. It was causing her muscles to ach and she knew she was pushing it but right now she didn't care.
After the X6 mission she had needed to work of some stress.
"Working hard?" A male voice asked from the side. Lady screwed up her face and concentrated on her screaming legs. If she ignored him, maybe he'd go away.
"The mission was a success," The voice persisted.
"Yes," Lady answered curtly and let her legs fall to the ground. She felt the shakiness in them that came only after they had been over worked. She tilted her head to look at Duke. He was blond, handsome and incredibly not the type of man she wanted for her consort but she had agreed for her mother's sake.
Are you not happy?" Duke was puzzled, "It was a victory."
"Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary."
Lady rolled on toe her stomach and began stretching in the cobra position.
"Pardon?" Duke was still confused.
"Mahatma Gandhi said it," Lady began doing push ups.
"Oh I remember. You like quotes!" Duke smiled. There was an awkward silence broken only by the fast breathing of Lady.
"Lady. Your mother told me you had accepted me as a consort," Duke began hesitantly.
"I did," Lady didn't stop or break her rhythm.
"I was just thinking…"
"Duke. Lets get one thing very clear," Lady got to her feet, "I have accepted you as a consort and when the times comes to perform the ritual I will but until then do not delude yourself into thinking we share anything more than a business partner ship. You are not my mate. It's not love, or lust or even mutual affection."
Duke gritted his teeth and inclined his head to her before leaving. Lady watched him go, feeling a little bad about the way she was treating him but not being able to bear him in her face.
"You may want to be a bit nicer to him, Lady," a voice behind her said. Lady's two best friends walked into the training room. Tsarina was her older sister and they shared the same green eyes. Almira was small, petit with an exotic face. When they were little Lady used to think she was the most beautiful thing in the world.
"He is attractive and a good warrior," Tsarina pointed out.
"You have him then," Lady offered before reaching for her sword.
"You have him because you are the heir," Tsarina pointed out.
"You can be the heir too if you want," Lady twirled the sword in her fingers.
"You are the one with a prophecy about her," Almira pointed out. Lady sighed and began practicing shadow movements in the air.
"Are you here to train or to reprimand me for my treatment of men?" Lady demanded of her friends.
"You are 19 Lady and he is boy who looks like he has potential and he so obviously likes you," Tsarina waggled her eyebrows, "why do you resist him so much?'
"Because I want love. Or even like," Lady cried thrusting the sword forward violently. Almira and Tsarina exchanged looks. They weren't reaching her.
"Love?" Almira prompted.
"Yes love. To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides," Lady proclaimed, "David Viscott said that."
"Oh great. More pre-pulse quotes," Tsarina rolled her eyes.
"You should pay attention to them. They say good things," Lady insisted.
"Can't you just pretend to love him?" Almira suggested.
"Never pretend to a love which you do not actually feel, for love is not ours to command… Allen watts was a smart man," Lady answered the question the best way she knew how.
"I don't like love. Too messy," Tsarina winced.
"To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead," Lady quoted Bertrand Russell.
"All right… enough with the love quotes," Almira exclaimed, "we understand. You want love."
"How will you know if you've ever found the right man?" Tsarina interrogated her little sister.
"I'll just know. He will be a much stronger person than Duke. He'll think for him self. An individual. He'll get under my skin and burn me in all the right ways. Some one who knows how to fend for him self. When I meet him I'll know instantly."
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"You're really leaving?" Max demanded as Alec put on his jacket. She was furious. He was leaving her alone to deal with a bunch of X6s. Not that she enjoyed his company but he would prove really useful right about now.
"Afraid so," Alec said with out guilt and with a smile.
"Figures you'd forget the one good thing Manticore ever taught us: never abandon your unit," Max snapped at him. The kids were all watching as the pair argued. Alec looked at them and chuckled.
"Well, thanks to you, there is no more Manticore. You made this mess, not me," Proving he really didn't care and then he was gone. Max watched him leave and felt a mixture of gladness he was out of her face and a desire that he would come back and help her with the X6s.
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Lady and her mother were having dinner.
"Lady, You are going to be queen soon... you have to learn to put aside your own personal desires and wants for the sake of every one else."
"Mother. I agreed to have Duke as a consort. What more do you want?"
"Civility."
"Is that the only reason you asked me to dine with you tonight?" Lady was frustrated. Normally she ate with her sisters, the army or the upper class.
"What do you want, Lady? Why don't you want to be a queen?" Her mother asked.
"I just want to be the General of the Army. Let me be a warrior. Live a simple life. Live fast and love passionately. As a queen I can do neither."
"Lady, I am going to tell you a secret. Do you promise not to tell," Her mother leant forward.
"I promise," Lady said grudgingly.
"I loved once. Passionately too. It ended in heartbreak. The fire became all consuming and devoured me," The queen's eyes were steady and serious and Lady shrunk away from them. Reminded in their green power why her mother was the leader.
"Promise me you will try to do your duty," Her mother tilted her head, "That is all I ask."
Lady nodded wordlessly as the door suddenly flew open. The head warriors walked in and one of the technicians.
"Your highness," The technician bowed, "As you know we've been listening in on Manticore's communications."
The queen bowed her head and indicated for them to proceed.
"They just reported and attack on another group of X6s brought in by the signal," Duke informed them.
Tsarina and Almira stood just behind with solemn looks on their faces.
Lady put her head in her hands, "Wonderful. Transgenic deaths we could have prevented."
"That is not all," The technician stated, "They were saved. By a dark woman on a motorcycle. They escaped for a brief period of time but and an X7 had infiltrated their camp and projected their location back. The X6s managed to get away but a woman was caught. I believe it was an X5."
"We have to save her," Lady said feverishly standing.
"We can't exactly send a contingent into a Manticore camp. We'd be wiped out," Duke argued.
Lady's eyes blazed as she stared him down before abruptly announcing, "You are right."
"I am?" Duke asked hesitantly.
"I am going in alone," Lady declared. There was an outcry. Lady turned to her mother to settle this.
"Be safe," Was all her mother said. Lady was out the door without another word.
"Your majesty, surely that was not wise," Duke said quietly.
"She will not die. She is too important. The lady will protect her."
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Max was pissed off. The new guys White had only been around for a little while but she already hated him. He was just an extremist racist with an obvious contempt for transgenics. Her prison mate seemed to agree, just not in that many words.
The lizard man didn't seem to speak but Max didn't care. He was like her. Created and hated. Max had a surge of anger at the narrow mindedness of the word and kicked the cage. That's when a dark shape came from nowhere. A robed girl. She pulled back the hood and Max once again saw the brilliant green eyes.
"You?" The girl asked sharply.
"You! Who the hell are you and your people?" Max demanded pushing her face against the cage.
"Ill met by moonlight," The girl said simply.
"What? I don't know what the hell your talking about. Who are you?"
"My name is Lady and I am saving you."
"What kinda name is Lady?" Max asked rudely.
"What's your name?"
"Max."
"Max is a boys name. Now be quiet and let me pick this lock," Lady turned her attention to the lock when a hand suddenly grabbed her arm and twisted it around her back. She was suddenly propelled forward so her face was slammed against Max's cell. Her shoulder burned with pain.
"Hey Maxie. Bet you didn't think you'd be seeing me," The voice of the attacker came.
"Ouch," Lady managed weakly.
"Alec, let her go you idiot," Max snapped at Alec. Alec furrowed his brow but let the girl go. Lady spun around and glared at Alec. She drew her sword and pointed it at his throat.
"Stab him latter. Get me out now," Max grabbed their attention. Alec stepped forward holding a pair of bolt cutters. Lady shot him an angry look, which Alec pretended not to see. Her green eyes were unnerving. They just didn't seem to be a natural shade. He hadn't seen this robed woman before. Max jumped out as soon as the lock was gone.
"Alec, Lady. Lady this is Alec," Max performed hasty introductions.
"Pleasure," Lady said wryly indicating that she was lying. Alec just raised his eyebrows.
"Him too,' Max gestured to the lizard man.
"Are you kidding," Alec took a step back from the lizard man.
"Do it," Max cried.
"Oh for the goddesses sake," Lady snatched the bolt cutters and yanked of the lock in half the time it took for Alec to remove Max's.
"I could have done it," Alec hissed. Lady rolled her eyes and handed back the bolt cutters.
"It's gonna be okay. We're gonna get you out of here," Max reassured the lizard man. As soon as he was free he ran. Max smiled as she saw the man go free.
"You're welcome. Come on, let's go," Alec muttered bitterly.
"Wait," Lady said suddenly.
"What?" Alec was exasperated. He just wanted to get out of here.
"The laser show's still going. If you wanna be the hero, you can't be half-assed about it. Let's go," Max dragged Alec along. Lady followed, sword drawn, eyes darting for Manticore guards.
Max sidled up to one man working out on the satellite, "All those stars kinda make you feel small and insignificant, huh?"
As the man turned Alec knocked him out with a gun and began typing furiously on the keyboard.
"It's done. Trash it," Max commanded. Alec blew the hell out of it with his gun. She heard a loud thud and turned to see the lizard man take out a guard.
"Come on," Max gestured with her hand. The lizard man never made it. Max watched him fall. Both the women gasped and made as if to run to his aid. Alec grabbed both.
"We gotta get out of here. Go, go." The trio started running.
They ran off into the woods. Alec and Max were barely breathing fast when they reached the X6s. Max ruffled Bugler's hair.
"I thought I told you to leave," Max grinned.
"You also told us not to take orders from any one," Bullet grinned back. Alec smirked and rolled his eyes.
"What were you doing here?" Max asked turning to Lady. She wasn't there. Max sharpened her hearing and could hear one lone figure running fast in a northwest direction. Max had too many un-answered questions to let the girl escape this time.
"Cell phone?" She asked Alec hopefully. She was surprised when he tossed her one.
"Hey Logan. It's me. Can you trace this call and find out if there is anything located NW of here. Uh huh! Thanks. Meet us there in an hour. Can you bring some travel papers? Thanks."
Max flipped the cell phone shut and chucked it back to Alec, "Guys we have a little mission."
"Count me out," Alec laughed.
"Alec don't male me kick your ass!' Max threatened violently.
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The two X5s and X6s hovered in the forest. They couldn't quite believe what was happening. There was a party. A bon fire with drums and flutes. It was like stepping back to the first days of man. The castle behind the twisting figures was incredible. Max couldn't understand how this had stayed hidden. Logan had said this was a privately owned property but still.
"So this Lady chick. What's her deal? She revved?" Ralph asked tucking a blond strand of hair behind her ear.
"Nope but she is a good fighter. And she protected helped us," Max told the girl, not really understanding Lady's motives.
"Oh my god," Zero whispered.
"What?" Bullet hissed back.
"Look. That's a group of X6s down there. I recognise them," Zero pointed. The group was laughing and wearing medieval clothes like everybody else down there but there was no doubt they were Manticore.
"I wonder how they got here?" Max mused.
'You don't have to wonder very much longer," A harsh voice said. The transgenics spun quickly to discover swords surrounded them.
"Put your swords down," Another voice barked.
Lady emerged from the group. She glared at the sword bearers, "They are welcome guests. Do you have a problem with that, Duke?"
The man shook his head and walked off.
"Welcome to my home. You found it," Lady extended a hand to Max. Max took it slowly. Lady eyed Alec.
"My shoulder hurts."
Alec didn't say much. The male part of him was kicking in. Lady was dressed in a traditional long dress. It clung to her waist. There were no sleeves but up her right arm was a series of black tattoos. Funny shapes and designs.
"You must be hungry," Lady addressed the X6s, "There are some other X6s down there. If you talk to them they will show you where you can find some food."
The X6s didn't need to be told twice. Lady walked slowly towards the main gathering.
Max and Alec followed. Max couldn't contain her curiosity any longer, "who are you?"
"The followers of Isis. Goddess of fertility. The wise mother that originated in Egypt."
"I know who Isis is," Max admitted.
"So do I," Alec nodded. Both girls stared at him. He was offended, "What? We learnt history at Manticore."
"You are the leader?" Max continued her interrogation.
"No my mother is but I'm the heir."
"And you're protecting transgenics. I'm guessing you saved those other X6s," Alec surmised. Lady nodded.
"Why?" Max was confused.
"Why not?"
"Good point. I have a friend who will be here soon," Max remembered Logan and decided she should warn Lady. She didn't want Logan skewered when he showed.
"Of course," Lady gestured a man over and gave him an order that the man was to be shown directly to her.
"Where is your mother? I'd like to meet her," Max looked around for someone who looked like Lady. There was a couple with bright green eyes but no one who looked old enough to be Lady's mother.
"She retired early but she would receive you at another time," Lady offered. Alec had been checking out the sword at her waist. It would fetch a pretty price.
"My sword is mine! We do not use guns so we rely on the ancient weaponry," Lady glared at Alec.
"You don't pack?" Max felt her respect growing for Lady even though she wasn't sure if she liked her yet.
"Lady. I've been looking for you," A man ran up. Alec noted with interest the face Lady pulled.
"Duke. Can't you see I'm with our guests," Lady didn't want to be cruel in front of the transgenics but she couldn't help it. Duke expected her to be dependant on him.
"I will speak with you later."
Duke was dismissed and he knew it. He stalked off. He wasn't a whimpering man. Women welcomed him to his bed but the way Lady was treating him was as if he was 5.
"Who was that?" Alec watched the other man retreat.
"Duke. He is going to be my consort."
"You don't look enthused," Max noted.
"Let me explain a little something about my cult. The queen is expected to have a consort. Have a baby then get rid of said consort," Lady sighed.
"Yay," Max said sarcastically.
"Oh it's worse. We then pick another consort, have another baby. So on and so forth. Like your breeding partners but worse. We are expected to have a conversation," Lady rolled her eyes.
"Well if you get to pick him why not pick some one you like?" Alec was confused.
"I didn't pick Duke. He was meant for my mother but she has had the same consort for two years and hasn't had a baby. As soon as she has her menopause I rule. Isis is the mother goddess so when a woman passes her childbearing stage the abdicate." Lady elucidated.
The three walked past a mass of dancing people. It was very sexual and Alec decided if the real world didn't work out for him then he would come back here.
"Your mother can't have had that many children if you're the heir. You're younger than me," Max looked Lady up and down.
"Only because of a stupid prophecy. I'm one of the youngest," Lady leant against a tree.
"How many kids has your mum had exactly," Alec asked slowly.
"She has had a child a year ever since she was 20. She's 48. You work it out," Lady was cynical.
Max looked scared, "That isn't possible."
"When you've got the best doctors, lots of wet nurses and strapping young men full of testosterone anything is possible."
"Sounds like a porn film," Alec muttered.
"How do you even know what a porno is?" Max demanded.
Alec had a dreamy smile and said something along the lines of, "Lola."
At that point Logan arrived.
"I brought the papers. And a camera for visual identification."
He caught sight of Lady giving him a strange look, "Camera… You … Take …. Photo." It was as if he assumed because of her dress she didn't speak English. He waved the Camera in front of her nose.
"I know what a camera is and if you don't get it out of my face I will stick it some place fairly uncomfortable," Lady threatened.
"I'm pretty sure she is a princess so don't antagonize her," Max pleaded.
"You'll want to discuss the children in private. We only offer the opportunity to send them to our cults branches around the world," Lady strode away then.
Alec had bailed quickly when he saw Logan and had laughed when he heard Lady put him in his place. He watched as she joined the throng of dancing people. They didn't dance like anything he had seen before. It wasn't like the popular dirty dancing but it was sensual. A smile crossed her face as she danced with two of her friends, a small Arabic woman and one who had Lady's green eyes. Alec wasn't sure but he had a feeling he'd be seeing a lot more of Lady!
AN: Like it? Hate it? I don't care. If you read please review. It was a long chapter but I had to get the information out! I've got some people I'm going to introduce next chapter. Maybe a familiar face! Any way please let me know what you think. As to the cult of Isis… I took a few liberties. I recently studied her in class and I thought she rocked!
MD666