Disclaimer see the prologue.
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Chapter Three: Pieces Falling into Place
When Alec stood outside Max's Terminal City apartment door, a week later, he took a steadying breathe. He always hated being in a monkey suit, his hands smoothed the front of his tuxedo jacket. He really needed the evening to go well. The votes on forced transgenic implants were coming up and a lot of people would be scrutinizing them tonight. He sent a silent prayer to who ever was listening that Max would behave herself. He may have been a notorious bad boy but when it came to missions, or something else equally important he was all business. Alec took another deep breathe and gave several quick knocks on the door. Alec heard the click of heels and then the door opened.
"Amazing…"Alec breathed.
Max smiled, pleased her femininity for once took Alec's breathe away. He treated her like one of the guys and Max thought people forgot she could be girlie too.
"…you're on time. Gotta tell you Max I had my doubts." Alec finished his sentence.
Max could feel her face pull into a scowl. "Ass."
"What?" Alec looked confused. "What'd I do?"
"Nothing! Just nothing." Max spat out.
"Max?" Alec said again as she pushed past him and slammed her door shut behind her. She was several yards down the hallway to the elevator before Alec could catch up with her.
"You know I don't get dressed up like this very often Alec, you could have said I look nice!"
Alec stood a few steps back from Max and smirked. Max was miffed he hadn't complimented her? Interesting. "Alright Max you look nice."
Max grimaced. "Not like that you idiot. You're only saying that because I told you to say it. Not because you think it!"
The bing of the elevator arriving had them both walking in and Max violently hit the button for the ground floor.
"Max?" Alec said and sighed. "Of course you look nice. We're made that way. Why would I compliment you on it?"
Max rolled her eyes heavenward. "It's amazing you're as much of a playboy as you are if this is how you treat your dates."
The truth of the matter was Max looked stunning. Her shoulder length hair was pulled elegantly up onto the top of her head and her dress was a cream that hugged her curves. She would have ever hot blooded man at the ball panting after her. Alec thought Max always looked stunning. But when you're around something long enough it becomes commonplace and Alec had always surrounded himself with beautiful women and Max was no exception. Alec could have cared less for Max's beauty. It was her friendship and that she was like him, an X5 that kept him around.
"Regular girls like to be told they're beautiful." Alec said in protest.
Max glared at him, "And I'm not a regular girl?"
Alec smiled. "Not by a long shot." Max's mouth opened to say something but no words came out. When the elevator doors opened Alec smiled back at her. "Cat got your tongue?"
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When Alec and Max swept into the Spanish Ballroom in the downtown Fairmont Olympic Hotel Max couldn't help gasping at the room's beauty. It held regal chandeliers suspended from 30 foot ceilings. The antiques the room boasted had Max's cat burglar sense watering at the thought of the money to be made…if she had still partook of her nightly activities of her past. Max sighed at the thought, too bad she was on the side of law and justice now. She took in the room. Plenty of politicians and their escorts, the hired help circulated the room making sure no one was without a drink, and the band was in full swing. Alec made the same sweep of the room checking for possible danger, analyzing everything his eyes took in.
Max disengaged her arm from Alec and turned to him. "Well I suppose we make the rounds?"
Alec smiled, "All work and no play makes Max a dull, dull girl."
Max raised an eyebrow and replied, "You just be your charming self and I'll play my part."
Alec nodded and by placing a hand at the small of Max's back led her to their table. Max put her cream wrap and purse on the table and then took Alec's arm again. Max glanced around the room again. Brown eyes honed in on Robert Clemente. "Alec I see Clemente…I need to have a word with him."
Alec sighed, "Well I guess I'll have to fend for myself amongst all these money grabbing, suga' daddy wanting women."
A brown eyebrow raised in dry humor, "what a trial that will be for you." Max then sashayed her way across the room to Clemente's side. Alec turned and watched her walk away, admiring the view.
After Alec made his own rounds, did the meet and greet, he made his way back over to Max carrying drinks for both of them. As he came closer he heard Max speaking.
"…I know. I've been trying to convince Senator Marshall to vote against that for weeks."
Max turned when Clemente locked eyes with Alec.
"Mr. McDowell?" said Clemente cordially.
"Clemente, it's good to see a friendly face."
"You picked a lovely date to bring." Clemente extended his head in the direction of Max.
"Lovely, my ass." the brunette laughed.
"More like a hell cat." laughed Alec charmingly, offering Max the drink.
"Clemente, how many of those have you had?" Max pointed at Clemente's champagne glass, while elbowing Alec in the side.
Clements smiled, "When you two laugh, I see how young you really are. I think people forget sometimes because you seem so much older on camera, and serious."
Alec put on a serious face and said in a voice that belied his face, "We're not that young Clemente, Max here just turned twenty seven."
Max glared at him, over the rim of her champagne glass.
Alec laughed, "But if you don't mind, I'm going to steal her away for a dance." Alec asked Clemente, placing Max's glass on the table and then pulling her into his arms.
"Alec!" Max exclaimed, swatting at his arms that now encircled her waist.
The rich laugh of Clemente boomed out. "No, not at all, Mr. McDowell."
"Hear that Max? I even asked for permission, now you have too."
"I don't have to do anything I don't want too!" Max retorted, but stopped resisting Alec as he began the steps to the waltz.
Max though engineered for balance and coordination was stepping on Alec's feet and looking down at her own to try to get the steps right. "I thought you said you were a good dancer?"
Alec smiled at her. "I am. Though you know what they say…you should never dance with a smart woman because they always try to lead."
Max looked up, her brows pulled together, "I hate that kind of comment. It sounds like a compliment but it's actually an insult."
"Hardly." Alec retorted. "You are a smart woman, you are trying to lead, and that makes you a bad dancer. That's the truth." At Max's scoff Alec continued, "You need to relax into me and just let me lead, follow my movements."
Max and Alec had come to a stand still on the floor, Max glaring up at him. Alec wasn't sure if she planned to knee him in the groin or go with what he said. Finally after a long moment, where Alec braced himself, Max gave a long-suffering sigh and said, "Fine."
Alec began to dance again and Max relaxed into him, just as he asked. They began to move gracefully across the floor. "See," smiled Alec down to her, "Not so bad and you're not stepping on my feet."
Max rolled her eyes but she had to admit to herself it wasn't so bad. It's not like she got to dress up fancy every day and have a man dance with her voluntarily. And Alec, she had to admit if only to herself, was a good dancer. She never really got to go out and do this with Logan when they were together. Though there was that wedding she had gone to with him, and then spent the entire time trying to save Normal's ass. And at least this way she hadn't received a lecture over her dress. Max smiled to herself, she really did like this dress…
"Ahh…Max. You should do that more often. You look real pretty when you do." Alec interrupted her thoughts.
"Huh?" Max replied distractedly.
"Smile. Max. You should smile more often."
"Oh." Max looked away from him and came to a stop as the song had ended. Alec turned to lead her off the floor but she stayed in place.
Alec turned to see what the problem was but couldn't detect anything. "Max?" he asked questioningly.
"Logan."
It was his turn to say "Huh?"
"It's Logan. Logan's here."
Alec followed her gaze and indeed Mr. Eyes Only was standing across the room laughing with a group of people in conversation. Alec dually noted the pained expression on Max's face as well as the beautiful blonde on Logan's arm. Alec grimaced, at least it wasn't Asha. That would have been a scene. Alec prayed Max would hold her temper over the course of the night, and hoped a fight would not ensue; Alec really couldn't afford that since the whole point of the evening was to stimulate positive transgenic press. Alec's imaginative mind could see the head lines of that paper already "Transgenic breeding rears ugly head in Cat fight at Governor's Ball." Lord. Alec shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Come on Max, I think they are going to serve dinner soon. I think Clemente's at our table, let's go sit down." When she didn't budge, Alec placed a hand firmly around her wrist and forced her into action. After a moment of dazedness, Max complied and walked with him from the dance floor to their table.
They sat in their seats and though Max smiled across the table at Clemente her eyes remained troubled. While dinner was served and consumed Alec tried not to notice how Max's gaze slipped across the room during the meal.
"Well I must admit it's been a while since I've had a meal like this." Alec charmingly spoke to the table, at the same time trying to bring Max's mind back to the present. Alec indicated the meal in front of him and the fine wine in his glass. "The governor should throw more of these get together's."
Clemente spoke up, "Well we're paying for it through our tax dollars so enjoy it!" Everyone at the table laughed.
"Even those who aren't citizens' yet." Max referenced the fact that the Transgenics had yet to be granted citizenship, which was received with some glares from around the table and silence.
Alec winced at Max's deliberately argumentative comment. Leave it to Max to try to talk politics at the dinner table. Alec tried to intercede "But worth the money I'd say. This wine is excellent; does anyone know what it is? I'm a scotch man myself."
Brooks Johnson, the owner of the Seattle Post, smiled. "I agree. This is excellent wine. Makes you wonder what they are drinking at the governor's table eh?" This statement was met with additional chuckles. As the conversations picked up around them again, now that Max's comment was put behind them, Johnson then spoke in a low tone to Alec. "So Mr. McDowell, rumor has it two weeks ago a representative for the governor came to discuss bill 4721."
Alec raised a wary eyebrow, "You heard that did you?"
Johnson smiled, "The man you met with, Charles Emerson, happens to be a close personal friend of mine."
"Oh really?" Alec said sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Why am I not surprised you have a governor's aid in your pocket, Mr. Seattle Post?"
"Everyone has their sources….And anyway I've personally been working on a story about the governor and a certain Chinese diplomat that has been lurking around the capitol and the governor's mansion. I'm curious as to why the Chinese diplomat and the Washington Governor seem to be spending so much time together."
Alec was beginning to feel pieces falling into place. And warning bells began to echo in his head.
"Not only that but I know Ms. Guevara is dead set against the bill 4721, especially the nano-chip they want to implant your people with. I've done some research; this implant was used by the South African government for their own super soldier program much like the one you were apart of. Did you know that the implant was manufactured in China?"
Alec felt alarm prickling up his spine. It was all falling into place. The warning from the NSA about the Chinese government, the aggressive push in the city council for the support of the bill, and now the governor and Chinese diplomat spending time together. Alec looked in Max's direction, he needed to speak with her, needed to catch her eye but her gaze was once again across the room.
"So what's your deal?" The charm dropped from Alec's voice and the steel tone that he used when integrating entered his voice. "Why are you telling me this, what's in for you?"
Johnson laughed, "Well I am a business man, so when I get your story I'm going to make money through my papers. But I also am a journalist which means I am in pursuit of the truth. And I like to think the truth goes hand in hand with justice. I happen to agree that you Transgenics have a rough rap." Johnson looked in Max's direction, "You should be granted citizenship and with other governments making super soldiers I think you guys are our best bet for protection."
Alec nodded. "I'm listening."
Johnson sighed. "There are still some things that don't make sense, which is why I'm talking to you."
Alec smiled now; charm once again in his demeanor. "Well I'm a businessman too Mr. Johnson. I now must ask what's in it for me in talking to you. I seem to recall the Seattle Post wasn't particularly kind to us when the Terminal City Siege was happening. In fact there hasn't been much positive press about transgenics from your paper since our existence was made know to the public. 'My people', as you say, don't exactly consider the Seattle Post an ally. So why would I want to talk to you?"
Brooks Johnson smiled his own charming smile at Alec. "Well since I own the paper, what if I could promise you all the positive press you could ever want on one condition?"
"And what condition would that be?"
"I get an exclusive interview with you on whatever unfolds with the Chinese, the governor, and the U.S. government?"
Alec thought for a moment and glanced over at Max. "How long do I have to consider this proposition?"
Brooks smiled, "Twenty-four hours. No more no less."
Alec smirked, "Why, you got any one else up your sleeve you're going to interview?"
Brooks nodded, "Yeah my friend Emerson would be interviewed and he's not exactly a mutant supporter."
"We prefer genetically empowered" replied Alec.
"Genetically empowered, huh? I like that." Commented Johnson thoughtfully.
"Alright, I'll have my people call your people before this time tomorrow."
Johnson nodded, "Good."
Alec turned back to his plate and saw Max was finally looking his way. Using his fingers on the table Alex quickly drummed out a "rendezvous in twenty" using an old Manticore code similar to Morse code. He saw an almost imperceptible nod. Alec picked a good time to slip away. The waiters cleared the tables, men were smoking cigars and talking business, women were fluffing hair and talking amongst themselves and many people coupled the dance floor. Alec found himself on the second floor of the hotel in an alcove on the balcony and whispered quietly, "Dix did you get all that?" The transmitter in Alec's ear chirped and Dix replied he had and had it recorded for the senior Terminal City staff to hear and discuss in a meeting once Alec returned. Alec thanked him, glad he was wired in to T.C. Then Alec detected the click of high heels approaching announcing the presence of Max's arrival.
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A/N: SORRY for the long delay. I'm home from school and dealing with a dial-up connection and one phoneline. Needless to say it's a battle trying to get time on the computer. I hope you liked this chapter. I've been busy writing. As soon as I can I'll get the next chapter up. It's written. Also is anyone interested in a sneak peak? I've got a chapter I've rewritten and I wanted to know which version is better. More details about that if you PM, me. Thanks. Please review...it makes the struggle to write and post worth it. Thanks.