Chapter 7: Family

Max gripped the snake's head tightly copying what Alec had done in headquarters. She wasn't used to it, but it seemed to have a controlling effect on the reptile. Therefore she tightened her grip and held it as far away from her as she could. She wasn't kidding when she said it hadn't been pretty when she had gotten bit and didn't want to repeat history.

She had looked around Terminal City for close to a half hour now and hadn't found anything yet. He had to be there she just had a feeling, and she wasn't about to go against her gut instinct. She knew Alec was probably back by now and most likely pissed that she had left without him, but she couldn't afford to wait any longer. Something nagged at her and she just needed to get this over and done with.

She was out in the streets of TC when she looked over to a familiar building. The same one she had been in the previous week with Alec when she had first come across the snake. That had to be it. Walking towards the entrance she eyed the snake with a raised eyebrow and marched into the littered strewn room. She gazed at the sign on the wall. "Advanced Recombinant Genetics." She shivered at the name it was just a little too close to home and reminded her of Manticore.

Looking around slowly she was as quiet as possible and smirked when she noticed him sleeping underneath a lab table. She quietly set the snake on the ground and as if by command it slithered towards the sleeping form.

When C.J. felt the snake on his neck, he stirred, and gave a snort. "Hey George." He touched the snake adoringly making it face him and smiled at it. "You found me."

Max crouched down and crossed her arms. She gazed at his head of unkempt hair. "So did I," she said quietly

He looked back to the snake with a grave expression. "Why'd you bring her here?"

This is what she had to work with. The guy was a definite lunatic. "Who are you and what the hell are you doing in Terminal City?"

Turning around on the table, he avoided her eyes, and curled up. "Same as you, hiding out."

What the hell is he hiding from? She got in closer and frowned. "Why? You're not a transgenic." He was ignoring her. "Hey!" She grabbed his arm lifting him off the table to stand him in front of her. "Don't make me slap you around," she threatened and he drew back from her. He'd already had the pleasure of meeting her fist.

"They're after me," he admitted in a shaky voice. He'd much rather take his chances with her than what was out there. She seemed pretty enough maybe she wouldn't be as ruthless this time now that they were alone.

"Who?"

"Familiars! Think I want to go back to that loony bin of theirs?"

She shook her head and blinked in disbelief. That's exactly where he belonged; a loony bin. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not crazy."

So he seemed to have read her thoughts or more her expression. "Right." The word came out slowly, sarcastically.

"They locked me up because of my dad. He was part of it all until he got out. Turned his back on the whole damn thing." He was still talking to George and she felt the urge to slap him upside the head. "Why'd he leave the breeding cult?"

"Because…" He stopped, and finally looked up as if lost in thought. Raising her eyebrow, she leaned in waiting for his next words. "He knew I wouldn't survive…" He licked his lips nervously. "And he didn't want me to die."

Now she was getting somewhere. "You mean the whole initiation thing with the snake blood?"

He stopped moving in surprised and slowly looked at her. "How did you know about that?"

Getting this guy to talk was like pulling teeth. She didn't want to get into the whole story of the breeding cult, her snake bite, and her miraculous recovery. He was inattentive enough as it was. "Never mind. How did he know you wouldn't survive?"

"He was a scientist. This place was his." He indicated the room moving closer to her, and she instinctively drew back from the snake in his hands.

"He tested my D.N.A. That's not allowed, see." He walked towards the counter and set the snake back into what appeared to be a fridge on the counter. "Everyone has to be initiated, they said. Thousands of years of tradition, they said." He was getting excitable reciting the story. "But he said screw tradition and sent me away." He emphasized the word pointing his finger in the air at her and finally crossed his arms.

If she hadn't experienced seeing the cult with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed the craziness coming out of him. Furrowing her brows she finished the story for him. "Until they caught you and locked your ass up."

He nodded sadly at his demise probably remembering what happened. Almost seeming on the verge of tears he said quietly, "they're everywhere. You never know who's part of it" he whispered fearfully

She had to get inside this guy's head; he would probably give her the answers she so desperately needed. Copying his whisper she followed him as he walked away from the counter. "The initiation thing, what's it for?"

"I don't know." He stopped his voice slowly rising back to normal. "They don't tell you unless you take it and survive. My dad wanted to change things with science and technology." He removed the plastic covering off a microscope with anger at his words. "But they said that was heresy." Hands trembling, he leaned in, and looked into the eye piece.

"So your dad got sick of the whole selective breeding thing…" She extended her arms recounting it in her own words. "And decided to get into the gene-splicing game?"

"He didn't come here until later, after the government took over."

"Took over what?"

"Hello! Manticore," he said in exasperation.

Everything stopped moving. "What?" She hissed.

"Who do you think made you?" His voice was almost condescending.

Oh my god. Now she knew her gut instinct had been right all along. This was it. "Sandeman," she offered, but he didn't say anything. "Sandeman's your father?" That baffled her.

"Haven't you heard a word I've said?" He turned to look at her incredulously.

"Is he alive?" She was slowly getting excited. "Do you know where he is?" She approached, and he fearfully backed up.

"Maybe," he said slowly.

"I gotta find him," she said animatedly.

"Why?" He asked wearily.

"Got a lot of questions." She was getting frustrated with his run around, she just wanted to get to the bottom of everything. "Like why he made us, why he left and what are these?" She pulled on her sleeve to show him the symbols.

"Oh! Ancient Minoan," he said with fondness, leaning in to look at them.

"Do you know what it says?" She asked hopeful.

Shaking his head he let go of her hand. "How should I know? I don't read Minoan." His eyes widened at her as if she was stupid. "Why don't you ask whoever drew them?"

This isn't happening to me. "That's the thing," she began in a whisper, "nobody drew them. They just popped up!" She emphasized the word with her hands extending them openly and walking around the table. She wanted to strangle him, she was so annoyed.

Seeing her approach his eyes widened in fear again. "Ohhh.." He said nervously and escaped under the table to the other side. "That's kind of weird."

"I think they're a message from your father." She closed the distance again and this time he was caught between her and the counter. Struggling to find an exit. "What kind of message?"

"If you help me find him, I can find out." She tried giving him a smile to show him she wasn't a threat and that he should help her. "Will you set up a meet?"

"I don't know." He played with his dirty fingers.

"Come on." She said with a honeyed tongue trying her best to manipulate him. Note to self watch Alec closely. "I mean, we're kind of related." Her words were sweet and he looked up as it dawned on him.His lips formed an O and he smiled nervously. "Well, when you put it that way…"

"Great." She pulled out her phone and handed it to him. "Call him."

His eyes glanced every which way and finally to the small phone she was holding. "I want to call him alone. You scare me and you have to promise me not to tell anyone."

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes and he walked out of the room with the phone. "Just don't go too far I'll catch you and you know it." She called out in warning.


Alec was getting tired of looking. He was staring at a small blond X6 who stared at him in silence, his blue eyes barely registering him. It was the same questions over and over.

"Have you seen a shapely brunette?" Shake of his head. "X5 goes by the name of Max." Again that dull look. "For crying out loud, you can't miss her, she's holding a snake." A twitch of his lips. "Oh did I forget to mention she's hot?" Finally he got a smile, but still no other reaction but a shake of his head.

He had asked a few people he had encountered on the street if they had seen her but he kept receiving the same answers or reactions. Only half of them knew who she was, and the others didn't even bother to look at him; no one had seen her. Like it's hard to miss a hot babe holding a snake. Some transgenics were just questionable. Where they even at Manticore? Where did their training suddenly go? You always accessed your surroundings no matter the circumstances especially anyone who could be a threat.

He felt the urge to slap the smaller X6 upside the head just to see if he could get a reaction. Courtesy of Max's impatience brushing off on him. "Hello?? Poisonous snake."Disgusted with the whole thing, he stalked off leaving the younger X6 to himself.

He checked several buildings even going back to HQ to see if she had gotten back, but she was nowhere in sight. He even tried calling her, but for some reason her phone was busy. I'm going to kill her. First she turns the damn thing off and now she won't stop using it long enough for me to reach her.

He knew she was right, and she could easily take care of herself; it didn't mean he had to like it though. This whole snake breeding cult with its mysterious people just appearing out of nowhere was irritating. Too many questions and not enough answers were just getting to him; it grated on his nerves.

He had to trust she would call him if she needed him. She's probably slapping him around for sport anyway. With that thought he headed towards a large structure.

Walking down the long hallway towards CeCe's apartment, he stopped in front of Red and Gatt. He gave each a calculating gaze and finally gave a wisp of a smile. At least some transgenics never forgot, and he quietly thanked his luck for those two. Without saying anything, he knocked on her door, but there was no answer.

Red took that moment to finally look up at Alec. "She's pissed. She said she didn't want to see anyone." When Alec looked at her, she swallowed. "Especially you."

"I don't doubt it," he said and without waiting opened the door to let himself in.

When he spotted her, CeCe was sitting back on the couch drinking. She looked at him, and when she saw who it was gave him the dirtiest look. Closing the door behind him, she finally spoke. "Get out."

He didn't move and kept his face impassive. "We need to talk." She shook her head. "I have nothing to say to you."

"You think this is what he would have wanted for you?" He asked softly, and she turned venomous eyes on him. "You have no right to keep me here!"

"No…" he answered her, knowing full well she was right. He had no right to keep her there, but it was to protect her from herself.

"Then how could you?" She hissed, and he stood his ground.

She had every right to be lividly pissed at him. He wasn't denying her that, he was quite content with her taking out her anger on him. Even to the point of letting her get in a shot or two if she wanted, only she didn't even budge. As long as she stayed in the apartment and didn't do anything stupid because she was letting her emotions rule her; he would be satisfied.

"You know why I did it," he told her, and she closed her eyes taking a long drink. It looked like vodka, and he sighed. Why she even bothered, he didn't know. It wasn't like it even affected them in the first place. It just numbed their wits a little; again he wasn't going to deny her that, trying to numb her grief. He'd done it enough times himself.

Softening his eyes, he tried again. "I promised him I was going to take care of you. Letting you go out there is not the answer, you know better than that."

"You're an asshole," she said morosely and took another drink. Her blue eyes were still watery and extremely angry. "You don't own me."

"Call me whatever you want Ce, it doesn't change anything. You know damn well what's going to happen if you go out there."

"Yeah I'll get revenge and then I'll have my closure." She indicated with another long swallow. Then she slowly cocked her head in defiance. "I used to respect you 494, now I can't even stand to look at you."

So they weren't even on a name basis anymore it was to be designations. That showed just how far she had fallen. Fine.

"The 494 I remember would have been out there making them fear their own shadows to the point of lunacy and when he would have been done toying with them he would have snapped their necks like twigs for pleasure." She shook her head in disappointment, and he mentally cringed at the picture she painted.

That was a long time ago. He reminded himself. When he had stopped caring, feeling and had drowned in darkness. The only way he had even known he was still alive was by causing fear, pain and death. It had made him feel, something.

Closing his eyes he swallowed past the lump in his throat. "That's not who I am anymore," he said quietly, and she chuckled.

"That's all you'll ever be." She grinned, and her eyes almost conveyed pride. "When I met you, you used to walk like death. You were merciless, untouchable one of their best. I used to be proud to even be able to call 494 a friend even brother; I wanted to be like him. Now look…" she scoffed. "He's nowhere in sight. Where were you when he needed you?" She said the words and they cut him deep.

"You're out of line 438." His voice was dangerously low again.

"Am I?" She mocked, and put her feet up on the table. "She's made you soft."

"You're pissed at me, you take it out on me, but she's got nothing to do with this." His voice was perilously cold. He hated the image she had just drawn for him. It made him remember when he didn't want to. What he had been then was so far from what he had become; it scared him to even think about it. Redirecting his thoughts to Max he felt a small amount of peace and held on to it.

CeCe was right only he didn't think he had gone soft, he had simply changed. Where he used to be cold and ruthless he was now warm and able to feel again; human. Max had saved him from himself but she would probably never know it. It wasn't something he was about to share. How would he ever broach the subject? "Hey you know when we first met and the person you thought I was? Well in fact it was just an act to get you to trust me. I eventually grew into that person but that's not who I've always been."

That had been the breaking point when he had first met her. She had singled him out, shown him a sense of trust. Even if it had been flippant at the time she had mentioned a small amount of concern that he was still trapped within the walls of Manticore. That was the thing, being around Max had made him want to be different, somehow that's where it had all started. If it hadn't been for that small life altering moment in his existence he would probably still be there a shadow of what he was now.

For the first time in his life someone had actually looked at him like he was somebody not an inanimate object that just went along with the rest of the décor. Even if she had only done it to spite him, she had named him. At that moment, that was the first and only thing anyone had ever given him; his name. She didn't know it, but he cherished that moment. The name would forever be his, and it was who he was now. It was precious because it was from her and no one could take that away from him; he would die before he'd ever let that happen.

CeCe's voice took him out of his thoughts again.

"You're ignorant if you think you can be what they want you to be. Killers are all any of us will ever be. You believe in a fucking lie if you think they're just going to let you live amongst them like regular humans. It's them against us. And if we don't do anything about it they're going to kill us all off one by one," she said ruthlessly and smirked angrily. "They deserve to die."

There was no sense talking to her. He had simply come to see how she was, but this was not what he had expected. To be challenged and thrown unceremoniously back down memory lane. "Give me time," he said quietly.

Ever since that morning 494 had started to creep through, and he hated it. He just wanted to get out. Turning around he opened the door and left her to her drinking.

Walking out Alec gave Gatt a long look. "No one is to go in there except me." Then a thought occurred to him and he added, "and Max. Got it?" Gatt nodded, and he left.

Maybe Max would be better equipped to make her see reason. All CeCe seemed to see when she looked at him was his past, and he didn't like it one bit.

With that thought he went back to the main building. Heading towards the computers Dix saw him approach and gave him a small smile. "Find her?"

Shaking his head he tried to forget what had just happened. "No."

Mole appeared out of nowhere and slapped him on the shoulder. "Need to talk to you."

Turning around he came about shoulder height to the lizard man but quietly waited with a casual stance. "What do you need?"

"Weapons, weapons, did I mention weapons?" Alec finally grinned. He didn't like people being afraid of him somehow he didn't think he had anything to worry about with Mole. He mentally reprimanded himself, he should have been more careful, he couldn't afford to make enemies or intimidate anyone at this point. Mole was probably attracted to command and strength like a moth was to a flame. He had that at least. "Guess I didn't get that clear. Did you say weapons?

Grinning he produced a paper out of his green military jacket and handed him a list. "Add that to Max's Christmas list." Glancing at the paper Alec's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Santa only comes for the good ones, or so I've been told." He grinned mischievously.

Mole laughed and chewed on his cigar. "Guess that leaves you to take care of us naughty ones then." Alec finally smiled in good humor. "Business or pleasure?"

"A little of both plus I've been extra naughty." He puffed on his stogy and Alec laughed his eyes dancing. "I might have you beat on that one." Waving away the smoke his eyes quickly scanned the list. "I'll see what I can do. This won't come cheap."

"You X5s have been known to make miracles happen." Mole grinned, his thin lips drawing back.

"Better start praying then." He informed him with a smirk stuffing the list in his pocket.

"You got it Princess." Mole extended his shotgun in his direction and with a quick blur Alec flipped it pulling it out of his hands.

Mole had no time to react and stood open mouthed, there was a moment of silence and Alec examined him with a grin. "Thanks." Mole tried to grab his gun back, but he put his hand out. "That's for calling me Princess." Taking the gun with him, he walked away, and Mole looked questioningly at Dix.

Dix just shrugged. "He seems to like pretty boy, only I doubt he'd appreciate it coming from you."

Mole growled at Dix and shook his head. Pulling the stogy out of his mouth, he went off in search of another gun. He felt naked without one.


Joshua had been hanging around waiting for the perfect moment to talk with his friend. When he finally spotted Alec, he was sitting by himself in the corner of the room. Leaning back in his chair, feet up on the rail, he approached him timidly.

He had no idea how to bring up the subject. The blond X5 was cradling a shotgun in his lap. He appeared to be loading and unloading it in an attempt to keep himself busy. The easy going expression or playful smile usually adorning his face was nowhere in sight.

Quietly he leaned on the railing and crossed his arms examining the floor. Alec had appeared too serious, something alien on him. Joshua also knew he was sad and depressed even without seeing it on his face. Maybe now wasn't the best time. Instead he decided to talk about what was possibly bothering the shorter man.

"Sorry about Biggs." Joshua said softly and Alec finally looked up at him.

Cocking the shotgun in response to his anger, he kept his face emotionless, pursed his lip, and looked back to the gun. "Yeah." It made him think of the events of the previous day, night, and that very morning.

He hated to admit it but CeCe was right. He deserved to be avenged only he didn't want to see her get hurt. Looking up straight ahead, he said his thoughts out loud. "I'd like to have a little talk with whoever did that."

Joshua knew exactly how he felt. He was usually calm and kind, but this was something he felt extremely angry about. Slowly he had started to befriend the people in Terminal City even considering them family and Biggs had been one of them. Worse he couldn't stand the idea of those same people doing the same thing to his little fella even his medium fella. "Me too," he agreed quickly.

Frowning in thought Alec replayed the previous morning in his head. "There were some guys hanging around, talking crap about transgenics." Thinking about how he should have paid more attention, stuck around, anything, maybe Biggs would still be around.

"You think it was them?" Josh questioned never taking his eyes off him. Alec finally looked up, and his eyes were so cold. The same coldness which seemed so out of place that morning was back reflected in his green-hazel eyes.

"Want to go find out?" Alec's voice was low and Joshua was almost afraid; he wasn't used to seeing this side of him. Only his anger ruled his heart, and he knew without a doubt that whether he agreed too or not Alec would go anyway. So he decided to go with him, at least he would be able to watch his back. "Yeah," he said quietly, and Alec smiled. It wasn't playful, it was deadly.

"I'll come get you later, when it gets dark," he said casually. Rising from his chair, he handed Josh the shotgun. and walked away.

Holding the gun, he quickly checked the safety, and it was back on. Watching him walk away Joshua swallowed. Sooner or later he was going to have to talk with him. He hated seeing Alec that way. Not only was it creepy, but he felt like he was looking at a complete stranger. "Gotta talk to Max," he told himself going out in search for her.


Max and C.J. had made it to a deserted construction site. Heavy equipment surrounded the area accompanied with large pieces of lumber and skeletal steel frames that spoke of a building being erected. Directing her to near what looked like makeshift steps he crouched near the ground and began picking up large stones.

Night had almost fallen, and the air had gotten colder making her breath turn into mist. Raising her eyebrow at him, she quietly watched his eccentric behavior.

Taking her phone out C.J. looked up at her in alarm, and she stared him down. Glancing at it quickly it indicated the same thing it had for the past half hour. No signal.

"You promised," he said nervously, and she sighed pointing at him with the phone. "You see me telling anyone?"

He shook his head of unruly hair, and she smiled sweetly, but almost stopped in disgust.


Alec was sitting on the rooftop of headquarters looking out to the city watching the sunset. He had tried calling Max again but there was no answer. Putting the phone back in his pocket, he sighed looking out over the now creeping colors of orange and vermillion over the building.

His thoughts wandered to Biggs and how his life had been cut short so abruptly and so senselessly, and he shivered. Somehow he had always thought he would be the first to find death; he had searched for it enough.

He thought of CeCe and her haunting words. Ever since that morning the shadow of who he used to be had been resurfacing and he cringed. The 494 in him wanted to go out and get revenge to kill and torture them like he had been taught to do. Then the Alec in him wasn't allowing him to, and he thought of Max and how much she meant to him; everything. Slowly a small smile formed on his lips, and he made his decision.

Walking back inside, he went in search of Joshua, and found him wandering the halls of headquarters. "Hey pal, you ready?" He asked quietly, and Joshua looked him over slowly.

"Alec, can't find Max" Joshua had looked everywhere for Max so that he could talk with her, but when he hadn't been able to find her anywhere, he decided he would have to confront Alec by himself.

"Joshua worried." He informed him and moved his long hair back over his shoulder basically proving it to him with the look on his face.

Alec looked up and could clearly see his worried expression. "Me too Josh.

"No Joshua worried about Alec." He told him candidly and Alec stopped, leaning in with a confused expression on his face. "Why?" He asked slowly almost dreadfully. Somehow he knew this was going to happen.

"Don't know how to ask." Joshua said timidly and stopped walking to stand in front of Alec basically blocking his path.

Alec looked every which way, and then gave him a playful smile. "Just ask."

"This morning, Alec different," he said bluntly and with every effort Alec kept his smile in place.

"Yeah," he agreed nonchalantly as if it wasn't really anything, and Joshua stared back in silence. After a few minutes of both of them simply staring at each other, Alec realized Joshua wasn't going to let it go.

"Just an old trick I picked up at Manticore Josh. If they're scared of you they listen better." Winking quickly, he gave a good-natured smile, and Joshua finally grinned. "Yeah."

Alec was somewhat relieved that he didn't have to explain anymore than that and started to walk past the gentle transhuman.

"Alec dark inside," Joshua's whispered words stopped him again. Turning around, he noticed his furrowed brows, and his sad expression.

"Sorry bud," the X5 apologized. "You don't have to worry about it. I was just playing around with them." Alec explained, he didn't really like lying to him, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

"Tricks and treats." Joshua finally gave a genuine smile, and Alec slapped him on the shoulder. "That's right buddy. Let's go." Alec thinking the issue settled, but Joshua having his point proven watched him wearily. Maybe best let Max talk to Alec.

They both left Terminal City quietly. Joshua walked tall with his helmet in tow. Alec gave him strict instructions to keep his head low and to follow his lead.

They finally made it near Alec's apartment but they didn't have to look long. Right on the corner, three men standing around were still making proclamations against transgenics.

Both walked ahead down an incline to the three bystanders. "Donations here, please." One was holding a cup talking to a gentleman that had just dropped money in his cup.

"Thank you, sir. Yo!" He nodded in Alec's direction, and the blond X5 recognized him as the person from the previous morning.

Looking down the street, he examined the area for possible threats, and looked back when he was satisfied the area was clear.

"Y'all want to make a donation?" He asked them acting cool, shaking his half filled cup.

Alec stopped right in front of him and concentrated on his cup. He had to keep his focus on the guy's hand trying to keep a tight hold on his anger. "Yeah, but my friend here thinks you're running a scam," he told them quietly, indicating Joshua.

The tall dark skinned man looked to his left and smiled to his friend finally chuckling as if sharing a secret. "I guess you ain't seen the news."

Alec had finally looked up to the faired haired man of the group not the least impressed with his smug grin and finally looked at the bald man. "What about it?" He asked pushing the conversation along showing curiosity.

"Well, we strung the trannie up that bridge over there." He grinned indicating his friends, and then the bridge. Alec turned where he pointed. The image of Biggs strung up was too vivid in his mind. Slowly he turned back to the trio biting down angrily and menacingly approached the leader. "I've got a problem with that," he hissed narrowing his green eyes.

"Oh yeah?" He asked challengingly, pushing his height for all it was worth. Alec wasn't intimidated in the least and stared up.

Josh finally spoke up behind him. "Yeah." Satisfied that they had found who they were looking for he followed Alec's lead and removed his helmet slowly.

When he took it off the leader stared back in horror and backed up. "He was a friend of ours," Joshua informed him scathingly. The leader's mouth dropped slightly open, and he looked first down at Alec and back to the dog man in fear realizing who or rather what he was facing.

Joshua couldn't help himself and did the only thing his anger allowed at this point and growled low in his throat pushing the man into the wall. Picking him up as if he was as light as a straw doll, he slammed his body into the building hitting his head.

Alec wasted no time and kicked the blond man into the wall in turn. Whipping his right fist in his face the man's head snapped back into the wall and with his right leg kicked the last of the trio in the stomach making him stagger back in pain.

Joshua having no real training when it came to fighting was basically relying on his brute strength and kept slamming the bald headed man into the wall. Moving over he repeated the action slamming him continuously into metallic mailboxes.

Fluidly changing his stance Alec turned back to the blond man punching him in the gut and lifted him clear off the ground with his strength and momentum. In pain the man tried to take a hold of Alec, but he twisted his body throwing him at arm's length. The last man was still recovering from his kick to the stomach, and Alec ruthlessly struck him across the face. His blow packed a powerful punch, and his head snapped to the side where he slid off a vehicle to the ground in a daze.

Still knocking his head in over and over Joshua had lost control over his anger. Finally grabbing the leader, he smashed the window of a nearby door with his head. Pulling him out he then threw him to the pavement where he laid sprawled his face covered in blood.

Barely winded Alec stood over his body. It took every ounce of willpower he had not to lean in and break the guy's neck but he thought of Max and held back. Instead his voice was cold once more his eyes relaying the iciness he felt coursing through him. "You and your friends need to get out of town tonight." His voice rang quietly with warning. "I see you around here again, I'm going to kill you." Joshua was still trying to catch his breath and couldn't take his eyes off the black man. When he heard Alec's words he quietly cringed inside at the finality of his words.

Finally satisfied that Biggs had gotten some form of justice, and he'd put the fear of god into them, Alec backed up to look at his taller friend. Joshua was clearly not used to beating up on people and looked shaken. "Let's go Josh." His usual voice was back and Joshua was somewhat relieved to hear it. Alec waved him forward. "Come on." Joshua leaned in to grab his helmet but the leader was scrambling back and Alec's voice came through again. "Leave it." Instead Alec grabbed the helmet and put his hand out to his taller friend's chest in an attempt to keep him at bay. Joshua had no idea he had been capable of doing so much damage so easily. Against his will he felt the need to get at him again, but Alec seeing his reaction stopped him. Joshua was slowly walking backwards watching the trio get off the ground to run in the other direction, and he finally turned around to face the other way. He tried to forget what he had suddenly done. It had felt so good and that scared him.


Darkness had fully fallen and Max had taken to pacing the lumber yard in impatience. She passed by CJ once, then twice, and kept moving back and forth her thoughts betraying her confidence. Something was wrong. Looking back down to C.J. she spread her arms in defeat. "Where is he?"

Still crouching on the ground, he had begun piling his large stones in a circle, reconstructing, something. Lifting his head, he rubbed his hands together, and extended them as if trying to calm her. "Dad drives kind of slow."

"Always made our poor mother crazy," a voice called out from behind her, and she turned around quickly. She was looking at Ames White and behind him a man was holding a gun in her direction. Out of nowhere several more stood cocking more guns, and she froze. Turning around looking for an exit but there was nowhere to run.

"Hello 452." White sneered with a satisfied expression on his face. She wanted nothing more than to reach over and be able to beat it off him.

"Fe'nos tol…" C.J. said quietly, almost timidly, which made her turn in his direction. She knew then and there, Alec had been right. He was in league with the breeding cult no matter what he had said or how innocent he may have seemed "My brother," he said lowering his head. Turning back she looked at Ames and her world crumbled.


A/N: I know I'm evil but you all knew that already lol. I just want to let everyone know that I appreciate the continued interest in the fic. I know the story is canon to the show, and I've tried to integrate it as close to it as I could, while still managing to write my own fic around it. I've noticed the reviews have dwindled and I can somewhat understand that some of you might not have anything to say because it's already been said and done, but please be patient with me the good stuff is coming I promise.

That being said, I hope you are still enjoying it, your small words of encouragement keep me going thank you.