NOTE: Okay, I admit – this chapter is a bit odd and probably not really believable. But bear with me because I wanted to introduce some more action and intrigue and all that without taking too long to do it. It's already been a long time since I updated (sorry!) and hopefully I can get back to this sooner next time. Enjoy and try to look past the really bad plot for this chapter.
------------------------
"What's wrong?" Max asked, for once completely grateful that something wasn't going right in Terminal City. She couldn't ignore the look on Alec's face when she'd blurted out her confession but definitely didn't want to talk to him about it. He'd probably make fun or tell her she was insane. She was never very nice to him; why would he be interested in a relationship with her? The more she thought about it, the more she regretted saying it. She shook her head at herself.
"There's a whole bunch of familiars here," Dix grumbled. "I don't know how they found us, but Mole said they followed you guys in."
"They followed us in?" Alec repeated dumbly. "I'm sure I've been out longer than five minutes. Why didn't they attack before, like when we first got here?"
"Because there were only twelve of them," Max answered, her face showing annoyance even though her voice had none in it. "They would know they couldn't take out all of us. They'd wait for reinforcements."
"White."
Alec breathed the name out and then exhaled like it burned his lips just to say the hated word. No one needed to confirm or deny what he'd said; they all knew he was right. Finally, he shrugged and swung his legs over the side of the bed, trying unsuccessfully to hide the vertigo that washed over him when he did so.
"What are you doing?" Max asked.
"And all this time I thought we were given higher IQs," came the snarky response.
She rolled her eyes. "And why are you doing it?"
Alec looked up at her from where he was trying to stand, and when their eyes met, something tangible filled the air. None of them knew what it was, but one thing was for sure – Dix wanted to be anywhere else. He backed out slowly, though the other two people in the room wouldn't have noticed if he'd ridden a buffalo out.
"I have to . . . uh . . . fight with familiars," he muttered as he exited.
By this time, Alec was on his feet, one hand protectively covering his torso. "Where are my clothes?" he asked, breaking his gaze with TC's leader.
"You're not going anywhere."
The other transgenic ignored her, eyes quickly scanning the room for something he could wear that wasn't quite as airy as the thin scrubs he was currently clad in. Besides, as confident as he was with his body, he didn't enjoy the idea of wandering around without a shirt. But his belongings were not in sight. "My clothes, Maxie?" he said lightly, finally looking at her again.
She was glaring at him, hands folded across her hips. "No."
"I was actually unaware that what I just asked was a yes or no question."
"There's no way in the world I'm letting you go anywhere near familiars right now."
Alec raised his head in defiance. "You're not letting me? When did this place become a dictatorship?"
"Alec, we almost lost you. You need to rest and relax and let yourself heal. You could die."
"And everyone else who's risking their lives right now could use a hand," he retorted. "If the two of us were to go help them, things might go a lot better."
Another staring contest began, and Max knew inside that she was going to cave. After all, Alec was right, and to make matters worse, what had started out as concern for him had somehow morphed into a power trip. She didn't know how that happened, but she knew it was wrong. She'd have to apologize . . . later.
Dix stepped into the room again, looked at both commanding officers, and shuddered. "Guys, I hate to interrupt – I really really do – but there's a bit of a stand-off going on out there and they insist they want to talk to you."
"Fine," Max said without turning. "I'll be right there."
"Not you," Dix interjected, causing both transgenics to look at him in surprise. "They said they wanted to speak to 494."
"What? Why?" Alec queried.
Dix shrugged. "But please hurry so no one dies." And with that, he scurried out of the room.
"I guess I'm definitely going now," Alec said as he headed for the door, right next to Max. "Can I have a shirt, or do you want me to talk to them like this?"
Max sighed in exasperation as she tossed him the shirt she'd been holding since she snatched his clothes off the table when she thought he might want to come with her. He grinned wickedly and pulled the cloth over his head, wincing with the movement.
"Aren't you even going to ask what stupid stunt I pulled this time?" the loquacious X5 asked as they walked.
"No."
"Not that I'm not grateful for that, but why not?"
"I saw the look on your face. You're probably more confused by this than I am."
He accepted that and they soon found themselves face to face with one of the familiars that had been fighting them on the roof. He had one of the transgenics from Terminal City in a headlock with one arm and a gun pointed just under her chin with the other.
"Ah, 452," a chilling voice said from behind the line of familiars. Every transgenic who had ever met him before recognised the voice and shuddered in disgust – White.
Max said nothing, throwing a meaningful look at her companion. Alec took the hint and said, "What, no greeting for the man you wanted to see in the first place?"
White stepped into view at that, an evil glint in his eye. "Oh, I'll get to you. Just be patient."
"Never one of my strong suits," Alec countered easily, before White could speak to Max again. "Anyway, I'm tired, so if you have something to say, spit it out."
"The thing is that I didn't actually want to talk to you," White said. "I wanted to talk to her. But I needed to make sure you were both here."
"Why?" Max asked, speaking for the first time.
"Because 494 needs to come with me in exchange for this ingrate's life," he answered, gesturing without looking at the scared transgenic that was being held captive. "I'm making a deal with you."
"Why can't I make a deal for my own life?" Alec asked, sounding almost like a petulant child.
"Shut up," Max growled under her breath. To White, she said, "What kind of deal are we talking here?"
"I let him go, and 494 comes with me. End of story."
"What happened to you wanting me?" she continued. "You used to have quite the fond spot for me."
"I'll get you, too – but I need him now. Take it or leave it. Either someone is going to die here today, or someone is going to leave with me today. Your decision."
"I don't understand what you're pulling," Alec murmured. "But there's no way you're killing him right now."
"Alec, no!" Max hissed. "What are you doing?"
He took a few steps forward and tossed off the hand she had put out to stop him. "I'm saving the kid's life," he answered. "I'm sure you'll be there to rescue me. You always are."
"This was easier than I expected," White said evilly. "Let the kid go."
The familiar grunted his displeasure but dropped the transgenic he'd been holding as soon as Alec was near him. Max had followed him over, but even she couldn't stop what happened next. White pulled a dart gun from his pocket and shot Alec in the neck. He had a momentary look of surprise before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed bonelessly, only to be scooped up by the familiar. The gun was instantly at his head, unconscious though he was.
"Whatwas that?" Mole asked softly. "That stuff took him down in less than a second."
"A new concoction, made specially for 494," White answered even though he knew the question was directed at him. "Like it? 452 here probably wants some for herself. I know how obnoxious he can be."
"What –" Max began but was cut off immediately.
"No one follows us," White announced. "And no one gets hurt."
The transgenic was too shocked to react. She just stood there, watching them drag her limp partner away from her, coldly not caring if they jostled his injuries. In fact, she was still standing long after all of the familiars had retreated and Joshua had come to see if she was okay.
"Little fella?" he said gently, and Max jerked as she came back to herself. "We rescue Alec?"
"Yeah," she muttered. "We hope whatever White gave him and whatever they're doing to him isn't lethal."
But what in the world did they want Alec so badly for?
