Exit Strategy
Disclaimer: I claim no rights to Dark Angel, or any of the characters you find here. No, not even Alec.
Spoilers: Set two weeks after the events of Freak Nation, includes spoilers for the entire series.
Precipice, Part 2
The group began to move away from the tunnel, in the direction of the city proper. Max and the ordinaries seemed more relaxed since the discussion with the agent, but Gem sensed an air of anxiety about Mole and Joshua, much like her own. Whether it was from the agent, or Alec's strange behavior, she couldn't be sure. The man himself was a ball of nerves, a fact that was becoming more apparent the further they walked. His body had stopped having sporadic spasms, but that meant little to Gem. Transgenics, she knew, were adaptable to almost anything.
She continued to observe the quiet group as they walked; Max was huddled with Logan, as close as the virus would allow, speaking in hushed tones. Alec alternated between passing out reassuring smiles and nods to everyone, and watching the ground in front of him while taking deep, cleansing breaths. Gem sped up to walk alongside Joshua and Mole.
"He's getting worse."
Neither man turned to face her, though Joshua did bow his head. It was Mole who spoke.
"Course he is. Dumb bastard thinks he's indestructible."
"No," Joshua spoke, shaking his head, "Alec not indestructible. Alec thinks no one can help him, but Alec can help them." He said, gesturing to Cindy and Sketchy behind them.
"Like I said," Mole raised his voice so that Alec, who was several paces ahead of them, could hear, "he's a dumb bastard."
Alec glanced back with a strained smile, his eyes darting onto each of them briefly.
"Wanna watch it back there? I know you're tight for conversation, but you keep talking about me, I'm gonna get a big head."
Max broke out of her mutterings to flash a smirk in his direction.
"Think we're a little late for that."
"Hey, I can't help it if I'm interesting. Far be from me to turn my back on my adoring public."
"Interesting? Adoring public? Right."
Gem noticed Alec visibly relax at the light banter, his hands no longer clenching and unclenching. Though her voice was light and playful, Gem could see the worry in Max's eyes. For the first time she considered their wordplay as more than stress relief on Max's part, but as a sign of comfort for them both, a reaffirming of the status quo. Then the agent spoke and the moment was over.
"The next checkpoint is two blocks ahead. You should head back to the tunnel entrance; I can take care of Mr. Cale, Mr. Theodore and Miss McEachin from here."
"Oh, hell no," Max objected, "no offense Special Agent, but I'm not leaving them alone with you. Alec may trust you but…"
"Hold it, boo," Cindy said, stepping into Max's line of vision, "If Alec trusts Agent Gottlieb here, we ought to give the man a chance."
"A chance! I am not risking any of you on a chance!"
"Max," Logan spoke up, "you can't follow us. It isn't safe. The sector cops have all your pictures by now, and Joshua and Mole can't come any deeper into the city. Would you risk them for us?"
"I don't want anyone at risk." Max grumbled with resignation. Gem could see the tough spot she was in, understood her desire to keep her friends safe. The truth was, though, they were at war. There was no safe.
"We got them out of Terminal City. Now the agent needs to get them home. They can't do that with us. We'll only put them in more danger."
Gem stared at Max, willing her to agree and get over her cautious objections.
"You said you would trust me Max, now trust my judgment." Alec said, watching the ground once more. "Besides, it's not exactly safe to be standing around debating this."
Max finally nodded, then moved to hug goodbye to her friends. Sketchy looked nervous at all this talk of danger, but OC and Logan were too caught up in hugging and shaking hands with the transgenics to seem nervous. Gem hugged each of them. She noticed, out of the corner of her eye, Logan whispering to Alec. Most probably it was instructions to look over Max, but Gem didn't try to eavesdrop. Then OC and Joshua were embracing, Mole was pounding Sketchy on the back, and Alec was whispering with the agent.
The two groups finally broke apart, the ordinaries and the agent heading towards the checkpoint, the rest of them gathering for the walk back to TC. Several minutes had passed, and Gem noticed Alec was staring at the ground again as he walked, his head cocked like he was listening for something. Gem was ready to pass it off as nerves, when his head abruptly shot up, his gaze firmly planted in the direction the ordinaries were traveling. Gem shook his arm gently.
"Alec?"
His eyes began to glaze over, his mouth turn up into a snarl.
"White."
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Alec ran.
He ignored the tightening of his limbs, ignored the niggling sense in the back of his mind, telling him there was something he had forgotten, something important. He just ran; his whole body and mind focused one man, one name, Whitewhitewhitewhitewhitewhite.
He was here, Alec could smell him, could see him, sneering. He was a fool for trusting Otto, Agent Gottlieb; Alec saw that now. Government agents, military men, they stuck together. He was fool for believing that men were capable of good, capable of seeing the error of their ways. There was no forgiveness or redemption. Alec was a fool.
He heard the transgenics behind him, Max was calling his name, or Gem was. None of them had his training; none were as strong or as fast as he was. Even with the seizures breaking his body down, none of them could stop him. Seizures. He had forgotten about the seizures. For a moment he slowed himself, tried to slow the thoughts racing through his head. There was something important, something he had forgotten.
The moment was brief, too brief to allow the people trailing him to catch up. His new mantra began again- whitewhitewhitewhite- a steady symphony.
He was on them now, Logan looking startled and confused, Cindy and Sketchy were shouting, and Alec had one hand around Otto's neck, the other reaching for his gun. The weight of it helped to bring him back to earth, and the voices calling out around him had words now, words that he could understand. Words like stop.
Alec looked at them, at Otto, who was struggling to speak. His face was red with strain, his eyes rolling back into his head. Alec felt hands batting at him, trying to pull him back away from the man who had betrayed him. He turned his gun over in his loose hand, swung his arm back, heard and felt the handle connect with someone's skull.
Otto, Agent Gottlieb was unconscious. Not dead. Alec knew just how much time and pressure to apply, knew the difference between knocking someone out and killing them. He had other things to attend to, now.
Whitewhitewhitewhitewhite. The man was closing in on them. Alec could sense him. He turned to face the group, heard Agent Gottlieb's body fall to the pavement behind him, and saw the shock painting each of their expressions. Gem's face, too, was streaked with blood. He paused between his deep breaths, looked down at the ground and caught the butt of his gun. It was bloody. There was something he was forgetting.
"Alec?"
Max said his name slowly, carefully. She was approaching him with her hands raised slightly, like he was a dangerous animal. Maybe he was.
"Alec," she spoke again, "Alec, put down the gun."
Agent Gottlieb was stirring behind him. Mole and Joshua and Logan and even bloody Gem were looking at him sadly. Cindy and Sketchy looked frightened. Max took another step forward.
"He's coming."
His voice was not his own, was 494's, deep and authoritative and Max, Max couldn't see, she couldn't see him. Alec looked up at her, looked over her shoulder, and saw two people running towards them, one of them shorter them him, blond and yelling his name.
His mind was still screaming whitewhitewhitewhite as he pushed Max out of the way with one hand, raised his gun hand, and pulled the trigger.
Sorry for the delay- I hate to end on a cliff hanger (obviously). Thanks once more for the reviews. You guys are fantastic in your support. Only one, possibly two chapters left.
