A/N Hi everyone thanks for the reviews!! I'm trying to incorporate all the characters into this fic, obviously Biggs and Cece haven't died! Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

Chapter 4

Max was surprised at how easily her Manticore training came back. Sitting in HQ mapping out sector checkpoints, assigning units for tonight's mission.

"So if we've worked everything out right, it should only take around 4 hours to disable all checkpoints" Max sat back considering the map in front of her.

"Looks like Max" Biggs said still frowning. Max had got to know him a lot better and actually found that she liked Biggs. He was like all Manticore males, hot. But he was also a really sweet person once you got past the extreme cockiness. It made Max wonder if Alec was the same, did he have layers?

"Do you know where Alec is though? He should be here, he should be the one putting this mission together".

"Yeah, what is up with that? You all said he was like the top dog, but besides his Braveheart speech I haven't seen that much difference from what I was doing".

"He's having trouble readjusting" Cece stated quietly and Biggs nodded.

"What do you mean, adjusting?" Max looked at both Cece and Biggs who both looked slightly guilty.

"Look Max, you met Alec just after he'd got out of Syops for his failed mission with that girl Rachel. It changed him. After that he didn't care, and when Manticore burned he worked so hard to forget everything. Women, booze, he has changed so much that sometimes I don't ever recognise him." Biggs sighed running a hand through his short spiky brown hair.

"It's just going to take him some time" Cece continued "to get back into commander mode, he's buried it deep. I just hope he won't revert totally to X5-494, because he was a great commander, but not much fun". Biggs gave Cece's shoulder a squeeze.

"Don't worry, we won't let that happen, we're all here to help him"

Max was stunned. It seemed that Alec had a lot more layers than she'd ever credited him for. Forcing her mind back to the mission Max started mapping out locations of military positioned around TC from intel received by the sentries.

Max finished strapping on her Kevlar. Smiling at they memory of how Alec had innocently told her they'd raided the Army barracks set up outside TC last night and requisitioned some supplies. Max felt more confident now that the entire team that was being deployed tonight had all the right equipment and weaponry that would be needed.

Max turned towards the door as Alec walked in, already dressed.

"You ready Max? I mean if you've changed your mind, it's ok you can – "

"I'm fine Alec" Max said grinding her teeth. "Don't worry I won't do anything stupid, I won't endanger anyone". Alec frowned.

"That's not why I don't want you to go Max," Alec said coming to help her with the last strap on her vest that she just couldn't get.

"I just don't want anything to happen to you." Max surprised at his sincere voice looked up to see him looking at her without a trace of his usual trademark smirk.

"I'll be fine Alec. Promise." There was a knock at the door which broke their gaze.

"What" Alec barked and Biggs walked in,

"Everyone is assembled Alec, their waiting for you to brief them".

Alec looked down to Max.

"Lets go then".

"Mission is to disable all sector police checkpoints and arm them with our own men. Back-up teams have been assembled and will depart to any checkpoint if any foreign military convey is reported arriving. The main military located just outside the entry to Terminal City will be disarmed by 0600 tomorrow morning. Everyone is on Coms 1, any problems report to Headquarters immediately for back-up. Everyone clear?"

"Yes Sir!"

"Move out!"

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Max was filled with a sense of pride as all units reported back within 3 hours, all checkpoints having been disabled and the respective sector police housed in their makeshift brig.

They would be the leverage if anyone got any funny ideas about bombing TC.

Max had been assigned with Alec and he had not let her out of his sight. His protectiveness Max thought was overbearing and she should object, but it actually made her feel secure.

It reminded her of how she'd always felt on missions with her brothers and sisters.
Now the real battle begun.

Max was crouched down beside Alec behind the military headquarters awaiting confirmation that everyone was in position before attacking.

The sentries stationed around TC had already been taken out, now the bulk of the soldiers needed to be relieved.

"Ok, everybody is in position. That's a go people".

Alec and Max slid under the bottom of the tent and blurred quickly not making a sound before disabling the two armed guards.

The remaining 5 men in the room were unarmed and too stunned to move and they trained their weapons on them.

Outside Max could hear the sounds of battle, machine gunfire echoing and she prayed that no one was hurt.

"Who is in command here?" Alec barked and a man of about 60 stood up and eyed Alec.

"I am Colonel Wallace. Just what do you think your doing boy?" Alec smirked.

"I'm X5-454, commander of TC and you, Colonel, have just had your base taken over by, what was it you said on the news, transgenic filth?" Max saw Alec's jaw clench and new he was itching to kill this man.

Biggs walked into the tent nodding to me, "We have command of the base. Shall we move onto the next step?" Alec nodded and turned back to the astonished men in front of him.

"Who do you report to?" Alec said Icily.

"Major Wentworth in Washington". The colonel replied looking somewhat dumbstruck at having his base taken over by someone so young.

"Well, colonel I guess you'd better get him on the phone then, we have negotiations to make". Max stated tartly and Alec grinned.

The Colonel now actually looked at Max and his eyes went wide whispering in horror,

"452" Max didn't look shocked, all the bad guys seemed to know who she was.

"Looks like I've got another fan, wanna tell me how you know who I am?". The man had now recovered himself and realised his slip.

"You can't do anything to me 452. Your whole race will be wiped out soon, I don't care what anyone says, you're not going to be able to save anyone. You are all an abomination". Max looked startled and Alec saw something of what the man said register with her. She moved forward quickly grabbing the Colonel's arm and pushed his sleeve up to reveal the mark of a Familiar.

"Fenestol Bitch" Max knocked the Colonel out with one punch.

"Alec, do you want these ones quarantined with the rest" Biggs asked coming in behind Alec and Max, sensing the animosity in the room.

"Yeah, all of them except the Colonel here. We're going to have a long chat with him I think. Keep an eye on him". Alec motioned Max outside.

"Familiars." Alec's eyebrows creased in concentration, "It would be a great position for them to have. I'm pretty interested with the part about wiping out our race."

Max shook her head, "I'm going to interrogate him, see what he knows about Whites plans". Alec grabbed Max's arm restraining her.

"No Max, I can't allow you to do that. Not yet. I need you to organise Dix to get us a comms link to the White House, that's our next move" Without thinking Max replied, tartly.

"Who made you boss?" She punched Alec hard in the arm and walked away from his grin throwing over her shoulder, "Don't expect to always get your own way Alec, cause it's not gonna happen" which made Alec's smile grow wider. He just loved to piss her off.

Max found Dix and escorted him back to the command tent where Alec had tacitly removed the Colonel.

"Max, we found information leading to a warehouse nearby that was housing transgenics that have been caught. There's a girl there, she's pretty out of it, but she's been asking for you." Dix was relaying the address but Max's mind was swirling, who could it be? One of her sisters? One of the kids she's helped?

"Biggs is waiting out the front to escort you there" That grabbed Max's attention.

"Escort me?" Max's eyebrows rose and Dix sighed, knowing what was coming.

"Sorry Max, but those are the orders. No one travels alone in Seattle until everything is secure, maybe not even then".

"Don't worry Dix, I've been living here by myself for long enough, I think I'll be fine. Tell Biggs, he can go back to what he was doing, I'll be fine" Taking off in a blur Max ignored Dix's futile warnings. He sighed resigned and relayed to Biggs that Max was already on the move.

Max looked at the warehouse is disgust. They hadn't even know that there own had been captured and were being held only a block away from TC. Walking in the open door Max saw Biggs unit unchaining several transgenics from cages. Her mouth hardened as she saw the state that they were in, bleeding, battered, broken.

A familiar scent caught Max's attention and she spun gasping in shock. Syl, her sister was being unchained from another cage. Her beautiful blonde hair matted with blood, her eyes not even being able to open.

In two second Max had her sister in her arms,

"Syl, it's Max. You're ok now. I've got you" She murmured stroking her hair as Syl nuzzled her neck in comfort whimpering.

"It's Ok big sister, I'll take care of you, it's ok".

"Krit, Max I've got find Krit. They took him, I've got to find him". Max held her tighter as she tried to get up, horror welling up inside her.

"Krit was here?" Tears were streaming down her face now.

"They took him yesterday. They wanted to know where Zack was, they wanted all of us who escaped in 09. Max, we have to get him, we have to – ".

"Shhh, it's alright, we'll get him back Syl, I promise. But we have to look after you first".

Max had tears streaming down her face. They were after her family. She had to warn them. Zack was the only one who knew where they were.

She'd have to find him, make him remember.

"Max" Biggs touched her shoulder softly,

"Let's get her back to TC, the Med team are ready, we're moving them all now"

The concern in Biggs eyes was real and she was so grateful.

She could also feel the anger and testosterone coming off him in waves as he surveyed the building.

Max carried Syl into the back one of the waiting truck where all the other transgenics had already been loaded.

Syl had slipped out of consciousness, her battered body lay in Max's arms, the only give away that she was alive was the steady beating of her heart against Max's chest as she cradled her close.

"She's going to be ok Max"

Max had been waiting outside the med bay for an hour, her thoughts so muddled, figuring out her next move.

Trenie, one of the best on there med staff had finally come to give Max the news.

"She has two broken ribs, a concussion and some bruising, but no other damage. She should be fixed up in a few days, but she likely won't wake up till tomorrow. You can see her now if you want".

"Thanks Trenie. Thank you so much"

Max whispered, unable to stop the tears that started flowing again.

Trenie, being raised by Manticore was not used to so much emotion and patted her back awkwardly.

"Just let me know if there's anything I can do" Max nodded and walked into Syls room.

"Hey big sister" Max said softly, stroking her forehead.

She remembered doing this to Syl when they were little, just the way Zack had always done to her. It had always made her nightmare recede into the darkness.

Max was rewarded as Syls creased brows relaxed.

"Don't you worry. I'm going to find Krit. I'm going to get Zack and make him remember. I'll make sure no more of us are hurt, I promise".

Max kissed her head and quietly left her room making her was back to her room.

Grabbing a bag out of the closet she started packing clothes and weapons, she didn't know how long she'd be away.

"Going on a little trip?" Max spun to find Alec lounging against the wall.

"I heard they had your sister, how is she?" Max didn't stop packing.

"She'll be fine. I'll be back in a few days, there's some stuff I have to take care of.". Alec frowned waiting for an explanation, when none was forthcoming he walked over to where Max was standing.

"You can't just take off for a couple of days Max. What is it? It gets a little bit hard so you run? I thought you'd have that out of you system by now" Max swung around and punched him, hard, in the face.

"You have no idea what your talking about Alec. Now get out of my way. You can't stop me." Alec rubbed the side of his face looking annoyed.

"Well, that's where you're wrong Max, I can. If I want I can have you thrown in lockdown. You will make time to explain yourself".

Max felt frustrated tears welling and pushed them back, she would not cry in front of Alec.

"My family is in danger Alec. That's all you need to know. I'm going to make sure their safe, bring them to TC."

"How do you know they are in danger Max? What did your sister tell you?"

"It doesn't matter" Max grated swinging her bag onto her back and headed for the door. Alec intercepted her, blocking her path menacingly.

"Max, you don't even know where your other siblings are. The only one that knew that was – "Alec stopped mid sentence and Max watched as it dawned on him.

"Your going to go wake up big brother farmer Zack, aren't you?" His incredulous tone made her even angrier.

"He's in danger Alec, he has a bar code, what if someone sees it? I won't leave him exposed". Alec grabbed Max in a vice grip as she tried to shove past him.

He didn't know what to do. He knew Max was stubborn, besides chaining her up, he knew she would go regardless. He couldn't go with her, no matter how much he wanted to. There was just too much here to do.

"Ok Max, listen. If you have to do this, your taking Biggs with you. I would go myself but I can't leave TC without a leader. But you will not be going alone, do I make myself clear?" Max eyed Alec suspiciously. She'd thought they would revert to fisticuffs before he'd let her go.

"Fine" Alec barely curbed his surprise at her agreeing so easily, then his trademark cocky grin was back in place.

"There's a good little girl, now that wasn't so hard was it?" Max shoved him hard biting back on her anger.

"Another thing Alec. My brother Krit was in that warehouse yesterday, he and some others were transported yesterday. I need you to get Logan to search the hoverdrone footage, find out where those transport vehicles went."

Alec nodded, already working out retrieval mission tactic in his head. He was not going to lose any more people.

"I'll contact Logan right away, but first I've got to have a wee talk with the president." Max nodded, giving Alec a small smile.

"Tell Biggs to meet me at the sewer exit in 10 minutes". Alec reached out and brushed Max's check gently.

"Take care Maxie. I don't want to lose you too". Max just smiled and walked away.

Alex guts clenched as he resisted the urge to pull her back and lock her in the brig and throw away the key so she couldn't put herself in danger.

"Alec, the comms are up, the president is waiting to talk to you" Dix spoke into his ear comms and Alec turned making his way back to HQ.

A/N Creative juices are flowing, hope to have a new chapter done tomorrow!! Please review and let me know what you think!!