Lucy didn't have to go as far as Alex's office to find her. She was in central command going over some intel with Vasquez. Hopefully it wasn't anything too important. Lucy walked up to Alex and tapped on her shoulder. Once Alex had turned around, she motioned for her to lean in closer to her. "Director Danvers your presence is requested in containment room zero." Lucy whispered as quietly as she could. She could see Alex stiffen out of the corner of her eye.
"Vasquez put any useful information into a file on my secure server and I'll review your findings later." She started walking toward containment room zero with Lucy close behind her. Once they were past the labs, she asked Lucy what was going on?
"A package was delivered to the front desk for you about 2 hours ago. David brought it straight to me. Once my eyes landed on the package, I suspected it was from Max. I didn't trust anyone else to help with the package, so I called Lena. We found a few things that can't wait."
Alex opened the door to the containment room and saw Lena standing there looking at a large piece of paper. Alex couldn't tell what was so fascinating about it from this distance put guessed it had something to do with the package Max had sent and Lena was so engrossed in studying it she hadn't heard them enter.
It was Lucy who walked up to her and got her attention, "Find anything useful yet?"
Lena jumped at Lucy's voice. She hadn't realized Lucy had come back with Alex. "I was trying to see if there was anything behind the pattern choice. It would appear that it's just a random geometric pattern. I got ahold of Sam and she's terrified that something has happened to Alex. I'm having my driver bring her here."
At the mention of Sam's name Alex became alarmed. "Why do we have to bring Sam into the middle of this. Max sent this package to me. I think it we serve our best interests if we didn't involve Sam in this. Why put her in any unnecessary danger?"
Lucy and Lena didn't like this anymore than Alex did. Lucy went over to the desk and picked up the note that was included with the tablet. She handed it to Alex and waited for her to read it. Lucy watched as some of the color drained from her friend's face.
"Max wants to talk to both of us?"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean he has it out for both of you. Or either of you. Hell, this is Maxwell Lord we're talking about. He may throw us a curve ball and want us to help break him out of CADMUS. I know it's a far-fetched idea that is hanging onto a pray by a very thin thread, but it could happen. I don't think we'll fully understand what we're dealing with until we figure out what is hidden in those lines on the paper the package was wrapped in. I hate that I'm even saying this, but I think that part of the package was meant for Sam."
Alex didn't like this one bit, but she guessed they didn't have a choice. "How long before Sam gets here?"
"Ten minutes maybe."
"Ok, Lena go get the microscope out of my lab. You're going to need the higher magnification that has to properly look at whatever is on that paper. If you think he'll be helpful get Winn. We can trust him. I'm going to meet Sam and escort her here personally."
"Alex fair warning she might think something had happened to you."
"Why would she think that Lena?"
"I had to step out of a meeting to tell Sam that I would be heading to the DEO to help you with something that needed my expertise. She was worried that something had happened to you and I reassured her that you were fine, just needed my help on something that was time sensitive. When I called her back and told her to meet Lloyd in the parking garage, she was very worried that something had happened to you. I told her you were fine and that what we had been working on had to do with Max, but I don't think she believed me."
Alex ran a hand through her hair. Great Lena had gotten Sam worried that something terrible had happened to her. She simply nodded and walked out of the containment room and made her way to Vasquez before heading to the front desk. "I'm sure Lucy has filled you in enough on the situation we are dealing with so if I ask you to field all of our calls and any other issues, you'll know what to do?"
"Yes ma'am. Unless the DEO is under direct attack, I'll leave you two alone to deal with whatever it is Max sent you."
"Vas you're a good agent and an even better friend." Alex walked away before she could get a response from them. Not that she would have gotten a response inside the DEO Vas kept things very professional inside the DEO. Many of the agents knew they were friends with the director and now assistant director, but they knew no favoritism was being played because Vas kept everything very professional which meant that she and Lucy had an easier time keeping it that way.
She walked up to the security desk and found David reading a book. It was his favorite way to pass time when he was running the front security desk. Today he was reading the latest John Grisham thriller. Alex sat next to him and he only looked up from his book long enough to see who it was that had sat next to him.
"Let me guess you're here to personally escort Miss Arias to the containment room?"
"Yes I am."
"Does Pam even know that you have a civilian coming into the DEO that hasn't exactly been authorized to enter the building? I know whatever that package that was delivered to you is the reason she is here. Don't worry director I'm just putting the pieces together. Lena shows up not long after I give the package to Lucy and Lucy calls me an hour later and asks me to escort a Samantha Arias to the containment room. I'm just assuming all of this is related but if Pam doesn't know about this, she's going to have a fit."
At that moment Sam walked in looking worried as hell. Hopefully Alex would be able to calm her down and whatever Max had in store for them wouldn't make her worry more. "I like keeping Pam on her toes. Do I like filling out the paperwork no but at least I keep Pam busy." Alex left a chuckling David at the security desk to approach Sam. The look of relief Sam had upon seeing Alex meant that Lena was right she had been worried that something had happened to her. Alex wanted nothing more than to kiss her and reassure her everything was fine. But given the amount of security cameras she didn't want to risk it. She gave her a quick but firm hug and lead her toward the containment room.
The second Sam entered the containment room she knew something was wrong. Once she laid eyes on the paper that she suspected had been wrapped around the package that had gotten Lucy so worried she began to panic. She had seen it before and knew the lines held a code. Only a code she could decipher.
"What was inside the package?"
Lucy looked at Sam and didn't like the fear she saw in her eyes. Lucy had hoped this wouldn't turn out to be anything more than Max just trying to scare them or at the very least make their lives harder.
"There was a note and a tablet." Lucy handed the note to Sam.
Sam read the note, "Hello my dearest Samantha and Alexandra, we need to talk." She couldn't help the shiver that ran up her spine. She had always hated it when Max called her Samantha. He had always made it sound degrading. She crumpled the note and threw it across the room.
She walked over to the table, stood next to Lucy and looked at the paper the package had been wrapped in. "Have you guys done anything to the paper other than take it off the package?"
"We carefully removed it and magnified the patterns to reveal that the lines hold a code of some sort."
"Did you happen to take pictures of the package before you removed the paper?"
Lucy slid her tablet over to Sam. She watched as Sam looked over the images. Lucy was hopping Sam would relax a little after looking over the images she took but they only made her tense up even more. Now it was Lucy's turn to be scared.
"Sam what's going on?"
Sam lifted her head and looked directly at Lucy. She knew exactly what this was about, and she couldn't trust anyone with this information. She didn't even want to let Alex in on this secret that she has kept for the last 8 years. If Max hadn't requested to speak to her and Alex, she would have talked to him alone or in the very least with Lucy. She didn't want to be the only one in on this secret, but she would rather it wasn't Alex. Only to keep her safe.
Without breaking eye contact she spoke to Lucy, "You and Lena need to leave this room and try your best to forget about everything you've seen."
Lena and Lucy exchanged looks but it was Lena who spoke first, "Like hell we're leaving when this clearly involves Maxwell Lord. We don't even know what he wants exactly."
Sam watched as the wheels started turning in Lena's head but this time it was Lucy who spoke, "You know exactly what this is about and what Max wants."
"I do. If he hadn't requested to speak to Alex and I, I would have asked Lena and Alex to leave. This is something that the DEO needs to be in on but I would rather not involve Alex. I know I don't know you well Lucy but this is information I would trust you to keep a secret. Since Max has requested to speak to Alex and I specifically I have to involve Alex and keep you and Lena in the dark."
Alex didn't like the sound of this at all, but she saw how serious Sam was being which wasn't normal behavior for her. She had no choice but to follow the request. "Lucy, you and I know just how crazy Max can get. I have no idea what has Sam so scared but I respect it."
Lucy was pissed. She hoped Alex was using her head as the director of the DEO not as Sam's girlfriend. "Fine but if you think for a second Director that this needs to involve more than just you and Sam you know who to call."
Alex got the not so subtle hint from Lucy. She was telling her that she needed to be the Director of the DEO right now. Not Sam's girlfriend. She gave Lucy a nod and watched her leave with Lena.
Once the door was shut and locked Alex opened the case Lucy had secured the tablet in and turned it on. After a few minutes the screen flickered, and Max popped up on the screen.
"What do you want Max?"
"Well hello to you to Samantha. How's Ruby?"
Lucy and Lena left the containment room completely baffled. What was Sam hiding that had her scared for more than one person at the DEO to know. "Do you have any idea what Sam knows that she doesn't want to tell anyone about?"
"No but I'm assuming it has something to do with one of his projects she helped him with while they were dating. Sam might know more about it than Max and now he needs that info. If it isn't that then I have no idea."
Lucy sat heavily in her chair at her station in central command. "Damn, I was really hoping you would have an idea of what she's hiding. I know Sam is your friend but how much do you trust her?" She could see Lena didn't like that question and she knew it came out wrong so she backpaddled as quickly as she could.
"I didn't mean it that way. Obviously, you trust her more than you trust Alex or even Kara. What I should have started with was how much do you know about her time with Maxwell Lord and do you trust that she didn't get mixed up in something that could be considered treason?"
Lena had to think about Sam's time with Max. She knew that Sam had worked for him while in school to help pay for Ruby's daycare. She knew Sam had helped him with several different projects but as far as she knew they weren't out of the ordinary.
"I don't know the specifics of what they had worked on but if Sam had sensed that any of his projects were going to be used for nefarious purposes, she would have contacted the appropriate people."
Lena still sounded agitated. Which Lucy could understand. Sam was Lena's oldest friend and Lucy was new on the scene and it sounded like she was attacking Sam and by association Lena.
"Look Lena I'm sorry if it seems like I'm attacking you and Sam. I promise I'm not. I just know how Max operates. I am also coming at this objectively I don't know Sam as well as you do, and Alex doesn't even know her that well I just want to make sure we're keeping any possibility open. Hell, Lena Max could have done some kind of conditioning to Sam's brain and this package could have triggered it."
Lena deflated a little. She hadn't even thought of that as a possibility and she wouldn't put it past Max to do just that. She sunk into the chair next to Lucy. "For all our sakes I hope he hasn't."
Lucy was just about to check in on the desert base when she saw Alex walking toward her. Alex didn't look like herself and that wasn't a good sign.
"Lucy, I need you back in the containment room. Lena I'm sorry but you'll have to stay out here."
Lucy followed Alex. She still had no clue as to what was going on, but she had a feeling she would soon get answers.
"Don't keep me waiting ladies. Especially you Samantha."
Max terminated the connection and all that was left was a black screen. Sam stared at the tablet. She knew what Max wanted the moment she walked into this room. She wasn't going to give it to him, and she knew Alex wasn't going to turn over the alien hostages he wanted. She needed to explain everything to Alex, but it would take time. She hadn't looked at Alex since Lucy and Lena left the room, she was worried that Alex would see her differently and never want to see her again. She turned her head to finally look at her girlfriend and she was a little worried.
Alex had on the face of the Director of the DEO and Sam wasn't sure what that meant in this situation. "Alex, I want to tell you everything, but it will take time. Which I know we don't have a lot of, but I think we should get Lucy in on this situation. It has gone farther than just Max wanting the missing piece to the formula. I've never heard of the alien species he wants you to hand over, but they sound dangerous."
"Yeah I think that would be a good idea. This doesn't just involve us. It involves CADMUS and Lucy's dad was the last person Max was seen with in person. She's been keeping tabs on her father since we stopped myriad. She doesn't know that I know. I'm going to get her and then we can all talk."
Sam watched Alex walk out the door and she wasn't sure how to feel. On the one hand she held a lot of cards in her hand as far as Max was concerned. On the other she wasn't sure what this meant for her and Alex. She paced the room while she waited for Alex to return with Lucy. What was probably only minutes felt like an eternity.
Sam stopped the moment the door opened, and Alex walked in with Lucy. Alex still had her director stance and stone-cold features, but she did stand next to Sam which had to count for something. Lucy stood on the opposite side of the table. Taking a deep breath with her hands on her hips Lucy asked, "What exactly are we dealing with ladies?"
Sam still wasn't a fan of anyone other than herself and Alex being privy to this information about Max, but it had to be done. Sam scanned the paper the package had been wrapped in as quickly as she could. She was looking for a specific molecular strand of the formula. It took her a minute, but she found it.
Pointing to that specific spot she began explaining what it was Max was doing. "This is what Max is ultimately after. This isn't just a random geometric pattern. It is the molecular map of a serum Max was trying to formulate for humans that he could never get to stabilize. I figured out the problem late one night.
"I was never as good at the science part as he was, but I knew enough to know what his reports and notes were talking about. I did all of the mathematical parts of developing the serum. He knew that there were two compounds that weren't playing nice which meant the serum was unpredictable. We knew the compounds were in fact compatible with each other but upon combining it with the other ingredients they weren't playing nice anymore. I figured out the exact amount of each of these ingredients plus another compound that would make the whole serum work."
Lucy had since changed her stance to that of arms folded across her chest and looking confused as hell. "What exactly was he trying to create?"
"He was trying to create a solution to the problem of aliens being superior to humans. The serum would have given the person more strength but not superhuman strength and a few different abilities. You wouldn't know what the abilities would be until you injected the human."
Alex was still trying to wrap her head around all of this. How exactly could they have created this 8 years ago? She had so many questions for Sam but those would have to wait. "As a bioengineer I have so many questions that I don't even know where to begin but thank god you didn't give him that part of the formula. The DEO's job the last 8 years would have been much more difficult."
Lucy felt like she was the only one in the room that didn't fully understand what was going on. At least as far as the science was concerned. "From a military standpoint I get how this would have been a complete shit show but how did the human determine which ability or abilities they got? Does it have something to do with DNA?"
For the first time since entering the room again Alex looked at Sam. She had this childlike excitement in her eyes. This was a topic Alex could talk about until she was blue in the face. As much as she wanted to let her explain the semantics of what was going on, she wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to impress her either. Even if there was a chance Alex wouldn't want anything to do with her anymore after all this.
"Yes, it has everything to do with DNA. Much like certain people are more susceptible to different diseases because of their DNA background, the serum will have different effects on people based on that same principle."
The worry had officially set in for Lucy. This was information that CADMUS didn't need to get their hands on. They already had access to some government resources because of her father.
"So clearly Max is working with CADMUS. We can't let them get their hands on this information. I'm sure they would be able to figure it out on their own, but it could take years. Alex do you think your father would be able to figure out the missing piece of the puzzle or is this not up his alley?"
Alex had to think about it. He probably could but she wouldn't have a way of knowing for sure without looking at the rest of the serum's ingredients. "I know my mother would be able to figure it out, but she doesn't work for CADMUS thank god. Without knowing what is in the serum I can't say for sure if my dad could figure it out quicker than anyone else in the same field. He's smart but not genius level like Sam. I should also tell you that Max demanded we give him those two aliens that tried to kill you before you went back to the army life."
Now Lucy was back to being angry. "Like hell is he getting his hands on those two assholes. CADMUS wouldn't be able to control them anyway. The first thing hell boy would do is try to finish the job he started on me last time. Still don't know how exactly I pissed him off when you were the one that shot at him."
Alex wanted to laugh but managed to contain it. The whole situation had been funny after they had saved Lucy but wasn't during the fact. "I wouldn't recommend it either but if we aren't going to give Max the info, he needs to complete the serum we would have to give him something. I hate that I'm saying that but after talking to him today I wouldn't put it past him to come after me or Ruby to get back at Sam. He's more pissed that Sam betrayed him and is now dating me. His last attempt at getting is ideal trophy wife."
"Well there is no way we'll solve this today. We'll come back tomorrow and figure something out. I'll also need to talk to Pam about Sam getting clearance to the building and your lab."
"Why my lab? I've got things in there that Pam would never offer that level of clearance for."
Sam had no idea what was happening. "Why would I need access to the DEO and Alex's lab?"
"You have now officially become a part of the DEO. You know more about Max than anyone here and can give us some insight into how he thinks. We need to figure out a way to actually capture the bastard, my father and put CADMUS down once and for all. I'm tired of them making life hell because they can't play nice with aliens and alien supporters.
"As far as the access to Alex's lab, you need a place to work and I don't want you to have to camp out in one of the conference rooms. Alex's lab would give you privacy."
Sam's head was spinning things were getting crazy and she wasn't sure how she felt about all of this but for now she would have to deal with it she guessed. "This isn't going to interfere with my job at L-Corp is it?"
"It shouldn't until we figure out exactly what our plan of attack is no. I would say things should stay relatively normal for you until we make our move, but I have no way of knowing for sure."
"We'll have to tell Lena everything then or at least what she needs to know. If I'm going to be spending a considerable amount of time from my duties as CFO, she needs to know what is going on."
"Oh, shit I hadn't even thought about that. I'll sit on everything and get back to you." Lucy shook her head this has become a bigger problem than any of them wanted right now. Sam looked terrified and for good reason. Her life was about to get complicated because of Maxwell Lord. "I'm going to go to Pam and get the paperwork started. We'll figure this out tomorrow."
Lucy started walking out of the room but turned around once she reached the door. "Actually, let's talk on Saturday. We have game night tomorrow and we aren't going to soil what is guaranteed to be a good time."
Sam watched Lucy leave. She was about to say something to Alex, but her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Ruby. It was well past the time she was supposed to pick her up from school. She answered and told Ruby she would be there soon. Alex escorted her to the lobby and Sam tried to find words to apologize but Alex was being uncharacteristically quiet. As she got into her car, she was sure that she had officially lost Alex.