Twisted Experimentation

Warning Warning Warning

A/N; If anyone complains that I didn't say this then I'll be annoyed. There is an NC-17 slash scene in this chapter. I've marked it out with a warning just previous and it isn't important to the overall story. If you don't want to read it, or are not over 17 then just skip it and go on. I felt like writing it in so it is there.

Chapter 11; Telecoercion.

It had been four days since Riley had last seen Alec and he'd been chained up ever since he had been captured three days ago. He felt hungry but that wasn't a real concern since he had gone without food and water for a lot longer then that. One of the transgenics had snuck him some water having obviously heard about him from one of the transgenics he'd helped out in the past but nobody would risk trying to help him escape.

He'd weakened the ties around his wrists as much as he could without them becoming noticeable but he knew it would take him several long seconds to break them violently and then a further few seconds to rid himself of his ankle ties. In those few seconds the transgenics around him could kill him several times. Most of the day he simply watched everything that happened in the warehouse he was trapped in but apart from a few newcomers nothing much happened.

If only they were humans and had tied him up somewhere private so that he could slip out without being noticed. No, they were too well trained to make serious mistakes, their only mistake so far was expecting him to try to escape as soon as possible. He was patient if nothing else, his special abilities would keep him stronger and healthier longer than they would expect and they'd eventually underestimate him.

In the end his chance came when a group of X-6s led two familiar X-5s into the warehouse. Both Max and Alec looked pissed off by the fact they were being held hostage but after a brief moments thought it was clear to Riley that they had chosen to be captured to get into the building and find him. Riley felt a smile crack at his dried lips as he felt happiness well up inside him. Alec had come for him, hell, he was even pleased that Max had come for him.

Four days wasn't really a long time to be imprisoned but with no food and hourly beatings, meaning no sleep, Riley was rather weak. Not too weak though to take advantage of the distracted guards around him. Before Alec and Max noticed him he made his move. His two X5 guards foolishly had their backs to him as they watched the two newcomers all the while hiding Riley from view in case the newcomers had come to try to rescue him.

Their mistake was that they were blocking everybody else's view of him. He kicked his feet out and flipped over backwards. He felt a sharp, and very painful, jab to both of his wrists as plastic battled with bone, flesh and skin. The skin gave way but the flesh and bone won the battle and his ties snapped.

Riley landed back on his feet silently but the small cracking sounds of the plastic ties were enough to alert his guards who tensed and began to turn. Riley was faster though and both were knocked out and lowered silently to the ground without anybody in the room noticing.

He didn't waste any more time before snapping his ankle tie and after jumping vertically he boosted himself on the top of the wooden A-frame that he had been attached to and from there he landed on the second floor walkway that circled the room. He could have found a window right then and there and escaped but he had business with Pete before he left. Knowing exactly where the transgenic spent most of his day he snuck around the platform all the time watching Alec and Max argue with the others about what they were thinking in capturing Riley without any of them bothering to look over at him. Eventually though, Riley knew that Alec would lose his patience and succumb to his concern over Riley's health and that would draw everybody's attention to the fact that he had escaped.

Twenty seconds later Alec did just that, he tried to push passed the others to find Riley but only came up short when he, and everybody else in the room, saw the empty A-frame and the two unconscious guards. Alec let out a sharp bark of amusement before starting to sweep the room with his eyes. Riley ducked into the shadows beside the room's door that he wanted to enter and simply waited for their predictable reaction to work in his favour.

Just as he guessed one of the X-6s yelled out for Pete and the door beside Riley slammed open. In an instant Riley was moving. He grabbed the passing transgenic by the throat as he ran passed him to the railing and held him tightly. Pete tensed up even as everyone below was watching him in confusion waiting for him to say something since they couldn't see Riley behind their leader.

"I told you you'd get a headache when I escaped." Riley sneered quietly. He wasn't bothering to hold him properly since Pete knew perfectly well that he'd never get a hit in before Riley sent him tumbling down on the ground below and possible onto his head. "Maybe the fact that I don't kill you will prove what I've been saying. Or maybe you'll listen to Max since it was her that freed us all in the first place."

"Pete!" One of the other X-5s yelled up. "What's the matter?"

Riley stepped sideways slightly and there was a mass of noise as suddenly every gun in the room was on him. He smirked at them. "Maybe I should get payback for all of those beating sessions?" Riley asked in a low voice but he knew it travelled across the room. "Alec, don't kill any of them, they're just idiots."

Before anybody could work out what he meant, Riley grabbed the pistol from Pete's pocket and fired four times. The lights died as the first found the electrical junction box, two barrels of petrol then exploded as well as the window nearest to him, all before anybody else could react. The room was filled with flickering electrical lights and the spreading glow of fire. Riley spun Pete to face him before punching him straight in the face. He threw him against the wall were he righted himself instantly as soon as Riley let go.

"Damn it! I'm a friend!" Riley snapped like he had wanted to in the alley before all of this had started. Pete lurched for him and Riley copied the movement except as they were about to meet, Riley changed angle and dodged the oncoming kick before delivering a punched into one of Pete's kidneys as he passed by. Pete fell to the floor in pain unable to fight any longer and Riley span on the spot and leapt up to the smashed window and out into the night air. He let himself fall from the building down onto the roof of the next building and then sprinted away into the darkness towards his motorbike. If it was still there.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Riley was well aware that he was driving to Alec's apartment and not his own but it wasn't by his own conscious choice. He'd started driving and his route began to lead him to where Alec would be simply because he was exhausted, hungry and bruised to a ridiculous degree.

He hoped that Alec had realised that he had been captured before he had been due to show at Alec's apartment and that Riley hadn't deserted him when Alec had needed him the most. An unpleasant sensation deep in his chest grew because of this worry and it got steadily worse with each passing moment.

He waited outside the door of the apartment for almost five minutes trying to get up the courage to walk through it. He took to studying the door, the evidence of the numerous break-ins were as clear as the door itself. Riley knew though that Alec had numerous locks on the inside of the door. He knocked lightly and heard a thump from the inside before the door opened a touch. Alec's face appeared in the door for an instant before his eyes widened and the door flew open and Riley was pulled in rather unceremoniously and crushed in a tight hug. Alec had obviously been in bed, it being four in the morning, but he hadn't been asleep. Riley recognised the signs from his glance of his friend's face.

Riley drew his own arms around Alec's boxer clad form and hugged him back properly for a second before drawing back reluctantly. Riley closed the door before following a silent Alec further into the apartment. "Jesus, Riley, I thought somebody had killed you!" Alec finally cried out.

He sounded so helpless that Riley couldn't help but smile. "Glad to know you care."

Alec's eyes narrowed at the out of character deadness to Riley's tone. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, you know. The usual." Riley told him. "In Manticore at least."

Alec frowned and looked him over taking in the looseness to his muscles that was so strange in a transgenic, the way Riley favoured his right leg slightly as he stood there and the slight trembling in his hands. "Get on the bed so I can have a look at you."

It was evidence of how tired Riley was that he didn't argue and simply pulled his rather ragged shirt and trousers off and collapsed in a heap on the bed. Alec sat beside him instantly and ran a hand over Riley's chest checking for damage beneath the surface. After a few minutes Riley spoke up.

"I knew you'd come for me." Riley told him with a small smile though he barely opened his eyes.

"Of course I would!" Alec's voice cracked slightly.

Riley opened his eyes fully and forced himself up onto his elbows. "Not very Manticorian of you." He teased.

"Nor is running off to save the nephew." Alec retorted. What happened next shocked Riley into complete inaction. He'd never been surprised into inaction before but when Alec's lips met his own he could do nothing but lie there prone until Alec pulled back. "Sorry."

Riley just watched him for a few seconds and Alec began to fidget nervously. "I'll just go sleep on the couch and leave you to get some rest." Alec made to stand but Riley was quicker. He reach out with a hand and pulled on Alec's supporting arm making the other transgenic fall next to him. Riley turned to the side slightly and kissed a surprised Alec. This time it was mutual and Riley's hand came to rest on Alec's side as he traced small circles on the warm skin.

When they pulled back Riley lay down on his back. Alec propped himself up. "Are you ok, Riley?"

"Just tired." Riley admitted. Even with his new found happiness at having his feelings returned he was still having to keep himself awake. "Can we deal with this tomorrow?"

"Sure, why don't you meet me at Jam Pony's for lunch?" Alec asked as he lay down on his side and draped a hand around Riley's stomach. "Max was really worried about you."

"I'll meet you." Riley paused. "That's nice of her."

"You almost sound like you forgive her." Alec pointed out.

"Almost." Riley admitted before dropping into sleep without a moments pause.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Riley awoke at mid-morning with the thought that he'd obviously been worse off then he had originally thought if he'd slept through Alec getting up and going to work. Riley showered and changed into one of the two sets of clothing that he always left here before going to leave. It would be lunch soon and he planned on meeting Alec at Jam Pony's as requested. Glancing at the kitchen counter on the way out here saw a small bottle sitting on a scrap of paper. The paper read 'Riley's' and the bottle was labelled 'Tryptophan.' He pocketed it making a mental note to thank Alec for it.

Riley had had a bottle of the anti-seizure medication but he'd had it on him when he was ambushed by the other transgenics and they'd taken it from him. Obviously Alec had realised this and given him one of his own stash of which Riley knew that Alec had at least a dozen bottles.

The ride through the city to the base of Jam Pony's was rather short and he pulled into the wide alley filled with bicycles that dodged him as he drove through them before shutting off the bike and taking out the keys. "Hey!" He called to one of the messengers about to leave. He did a double take as he recognised her face and his sudden realisation was proven when she tensed and got ready to do a runner. "Chill! Is Alec in there?"

She relaxed ever so slightly but nodded all the same before slowly backing away from him until she was far enough away to cycle off without having to worry about being attacked from behind. Riley sighed before getting off of the bike and walking down the ramp into the bottom floor of the building. He paused to look around. People were constantly passing him and he studied each of their faces and postures to see if he recognised any of them. His memory told him that he had seen several of them in his visits to Crash but his senses could detect all of them which meant none of them were X-5s and their postures were too human to be anything but just that. Unable to see or hear Alec anywhere in the vicinity he walked up to the counter where a man stood with headphones on. He was talking through them to somebody on the other end and he glanced up at Riley, took in his age and instantly looked back at his clipboard as he continued his conversation.

Riley rolled his eyes, even with the black roll neck and blue jeans he was wearing he didn't look like a normal kid that would be a messenger. He waited for another moment and when the man hung up and went to dial a number, Riley asked him where Alec was.

"Look, I don't need more hooligans around here looking for jobs. Just go find something else to waste your day with." The man told him.

Riley's eyes rose up his forehead and he decided just to do this the easy way. He pulled out his wallet from his jeans pocket and flipped it open and then closed again so that only the man saw the Federal ID hidden there. "Alec…Is where?" Riley asked as if speaking to deaf man.

"Um…he's up in the seating area. It's just around the corner, do you need me to take you there, Sir. Really I don't mind." Riley almost laughed at the man's change of attitude. Alec had been right, his boss was one for authority figures. He settled on shaking his head.

"I wasn't here." Riley told him before turning away.

"Yes Sir. I never saw you sir." Riley did grin this time but only because the man could no longer see his face.

Riley walked through the room and down a short corridor. On the right were lockers and on the left was a short set of stairs that led to a slightly raised area with a sign proclaiming it as a 'No Bike' zone. It was surrounded by a railing and was filled with small tables and chairs. Riley climbed the stairs and his hearing instantly picked through the people there searching for the one he knew the best. His body found it easily and his eyes followed the direction to a table under the TV where Alec sat facing him, along with Max, Original Cindy and Sketchy.

Alec saw him as he approached and he stood up and came around the table. The other three craned their necks to face him and were equally shocked when Alec grabbed him and pecked him on the lips. Silence rippled through the room before Max spoiled it by snorting in amusement.

One of the men on the other side of the room yelled out in amusement and Riley cast a dangerous glare across the room which instantly had everyone turning back to their own groups and conversations spread through the room again though Riley had no problem picking out that they were all about Alec and himself.

Alec led him by his hand back to his side of the table and Riley settled himself into the one empty seat around the table between Alec and Original Cindy. "I think you just broke the heart of every girl in here." Sketchy pointed out.

"Almost all of them." Max put in with a glare at Sketchy.

"You managed to find us alright?" Alec turned to Riley.

Riley shrugged. "Ran into an old friend outside who seemed rather concerned to see me and she told me you were here, then it just took waving my wallet at the man behind the desk to get him to tell me where you were."

"You bribed Normal?" Original Cindy asked with a raised eyebrow.

Riley glanced at her and spoke bluntly. "No."

"You didn't!" Alec asked before shaking his head and offering Riley his plate of fries to share.

"It was fun." Riley shrugged.

"What did you do?" Max asked sceptically probably imagining Riley beating the information out of her boss.

"Showed him my ID." Riley shrugged again and she groaned.

"I don't understand." Sketchy sighed but didn't seem to be expecting a reply.

"How are you feeling?" Max asked ignoring the guy.

"A bit sore." Riley admitted seeing the genuine concern in her expression.

"Why, what happened to you?" Original Cindy asked.

"Ran into some old friends from where I grew up." Riley shrugged knowing she'd make use of the clue. "They weren't too pleased to see me."

"What did they do?" Sketchy asked.

"Beat me up and help me captive for four days." Riley shrugged knowing that he'd be imagining some dark cell somewhere while Original Cindy would be imagining a fast paced intense battle of superhuman transgenics. As far as Riley was concerned they could fill in the gaps however they liked.

"What are you doing this afternoon?" Alec asked.

"I'm going to try to find our older aged friend again. I found him but I doubt he's still in the same place after four days." Riley told them. This time only Max and Alec knew what he was talking about though he was sure that Original Cindy would understand once Max told her that their 'older aged friend' was Ames White.

"Are you sure you should be doing that right now?" Alec asked worryingly.

"Better today then tomorrow when the trail will be even colder." Riley told him catching his eye to show that he would be able to handle himself.

"Why do I always end up losing these arguments?" Alec asked before backing down. "Just make sure you're back at my apartment later or at least send me a message if you get captured this time and let me know where I've got to go to save your sorry arse."

"Funny, Alec, real funny." Riley sighed before stealing one last chip. "I'll see you later. I've got a lead on one of the men I want to watch and I know where he always buys his lunch."

Alec nodded before leaning over and kissing Riley deeply on the lips. They only broke apart when the cat-calling grew in volume to the point that Normal was yelling from across the building for quiet. "See ya later." Alec whispered before settling back into his chair.

Riley blinked a few times, caught Max's amused grin and left the room glaring at anyone that tried to tease him.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Alec's apartment - that night

Riley walked into Alec's home and instantly heard Alec swearing from the other room. Riley walked through the kitchen-living room and into the bedroom to find Alec throwing clothes rather unceremoniously across the room as he searched through his wardrobe. He wasn't wearing a shirt and Riley assumed from that, that Alec was looking for a certain shirt.

Riley leaned against the door and decided to just watch the spectacle and drink in the sight of his friend - boyfriend. Was he his boyfriend now or had they just entered some strange new reality where kissing was a normal interaction.

Either way, watching Alec acting so unlike any Manticorian brought a smile to Riley's lips and it wasn't until the fifth nasty phrase was spouted from Alec that Riley scrapped his foot across the carpet. Alec bolted around and into a defensive stance but Riley didn't move from his place leaning against the door frame.

"I must say I preferred this room in it's semi-tidy state." Riley muttered with a glance around the room as Alec went red. "What're you doing?"

"Looking for a shirt." Alec told him with a sheepish look.

"Like that one, or that one, or…" Riley said pointing at any number of t-shirts and shirts all around the floor.

"A particular one." Alec cut him off before he could continue pointing out shirts.

"Any particular reason?" Riley asked. "Were you trying to impress somebody?"

Riley had thought that he had covered the concern in his question with an uncaring tone of voice but he had evidently failed. "I was trying to impress you." Alec told him taking a few steps to close the gap between them.

Riley looked up at him in confusion. "I'm used to seeing you in tactical uniform or scrubs. A particular shirt isn't going to make me like you any more than I already do." Riley around the room again. "Why were you trying to impress me?"

"Um…I wanted to…" Alec stuttered crossing his arms over his naked chest as if only just realising that he was half naked in front of Riley. "It's just…I don't know! I just wanted to."

Riley chuckled and finally pushed himself off of the doorframe and took the last step to close the gap between them. He took hold of Alec's forearms and gently pushed them down and to the sides before taking both of his hands in his own. "That's sweet. But you know, I rather like you like this."

Alec flashed him a rather mischievous smirk before letting go of Riley's hands and lifting Riley's roll neck up slightly at the hem to place his hand on Riley's abs. "I think you better remind me what you look like without a shirt on, I don't think I remember."

Riley gave him a dry look. "It was just last night, Alec." Alec, instead of being put off by this just grinned and pulled Riley's top over his head. Riley half felt like opposing the movement but he couldn't really say that he didn't wanted to. Alec dropped the top to the side and started to rub his hands around Riley's exposed skin.

Riley half shut his eyes immersing himself in a kind of touch that he had never felt before. A loving touch. The night would prove to be interesting.

(NC-17 Slash, skip to next message if you don't want to read it.)

Riley made the first proper move as his own hands, that had been running across Alec's own chest came to settle on the belt around Alec's waist. He paused for a moment and opened his eyes to look at a flushed Alec before leaning in to kiss him. Riley kissed his way down Alec's chin and onto his neck and drew Alec closer to him with the hand on his belt. Alec's arms slipped around to Riley's back and began running up and down it. Riley slowly undid the belt and pulled it off before fumbling with the button and zipper.

Alec stepped out of the jeans and Riley took off his own. They shared a moment of silence as Riley stepped back and flipped off the lights plunging the room into darkness though it was only so they could sleep afterwards. Neither of them needed to try hard to see in the dark. Fumbling hands ranged over their bodies touching everything above the waistline until Alec made the first move and slid his hand inside Riley's boxers and gripped the hardened flesh there. Riley tilted up his head and Alec kissed his throat lightly. Riley slid his own hands to Alec's boxers and pushed them down passed his hips letting them slid to the floor as he took Alec's member in his own hand.

Riley struggled out of his own boxers and pushed both of them back onto the bed landing on his side against Alec. Alec's hand wound under his head and down onto his back. "Maybe we should just take this easy tonight." Riley suggested before deciding to just be honest. "I think I'm close to a seizure with all that torture and I don't want to push it any."

Alec smiled up at him. "Let's just take this slowly. I've only done this sort of thing once before. After I escaped."

Riley was drawing figures of eight into Riley's chest as he spoke. "I thought Manticore had to resort to breeding, I thought you would have had to take part."

"I was supposed to but it was just a ploy." Alec sighed. "They set me up with Max so that I could earn her trust while we worked to escape. Then I had to follow her out here to make sure she put the virus on him. Before I could get back she'd forced them to burn it all down."

Riley kissed Alec's left nipple and bit it ever so slightly. "Let's just enjoy tonight then and face the real world another day."

"Sounds good to me." Alec told him before pulled Riley on top of him. Riley took his own weight on his left arm and knees before reaching down to grip Alec's manhood tightly. Alec gasped and retaliated by doing the same to Riley who leaned down to capture Alec's lips with his own. Tongues battles and their hands slid back and forwards teasing their members with slow languid motions. Riley let the pleasure ripple through him one stoke at a time, savouring each moment as a first.

Minutes passed with only the sounds of gasps and their kisses to break the silence until Alec groaned out in pleasure and his grasp tightened around Riley's manhood. Alec bucked up against Alec and his cum splattered across their naked bodies. He took a few moments but soon he was stroking Riley's member faster and with more enthusiasm then before. Riley kissed Alec with all of his strength feeling his own orgasm mounting and let the waves of pleasure wrack through his body as his own cum mixed with Alec's between them as he collapsed to the side panting. Riley laid his head on Alec's shoulder with a warm sigh before reaching behind him for one of Alec's less than nice t-shirt.

Alec made to protest the harsh use of his shirt as Riley mopped up their messes but Riley just smiled up at him warmly before pulling the duvet up over them both and snuggling up to Alec.

(Scene finished)

"You know, Alec, you're the only thing out here worth living for."

"I feel the same way about you."

"When they come for me…" Riley paused knowing that he hadn't told Alec about everything that Lydecker had told him about 'magic' but settled on just being vague. "Lydecker said that the people I was born to might come looking for me. To take me back. When they come for me will you help me?"

"Of course I'll help you, Riley. I wont let you go now that we have each other." Alec said rather uncharacteristically. Riley kissed him on the lips one last time before settling down to sleep.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Three weeks later

Riley swung around the corner towards Jam Pony to meet Alec for lunch again. It had become a habit of his, something normal that they could do together. Their relationship had grown and it was the talk of the messenger service that Alec was dating a Federal Agent, something that had not only annoyed Max but made Normal love Alec all the more since he'd already been enamoured with Alec because of his boxing days.

He'd spent the weeks since his capture quietly for the most part, staying out of trouble as much as possible while keeping an eye on White which took up most of his day but it gave him the isolation that he needed so much. He kept in touch with Logan who kept him up to date on any news about Transgenics and sometimes went after evidence against people he was trying to bring to justice but only if he could get something out of it. He'd been called to help out Max and Alec a few times as well though.

He'd gotten a call from Alec two days after they had gotten together when they had found, and been captured by, a Gossamer that had been hunting people with Kevlar fillings in their mouths. It had been easy for Riley to deal with after arriving since he'd been involved in the Gossamer's training and knew how to control them. Once he arrived it was a case of whistling a particular tone to gets its attention and then commanding it to stand down and the crisis was over. He'd taught the scrap yard owner to whistle in the same way so that he too could keep the creature under control before leaving with Alec to clean him off from the Gossamer's web.

Two weeks ago a more serious situation had occurred when Max had gotten herself shot whilst trying to save a kid. Riley had refused to run in and try to break her out of the CDC lockdown over the hospital on the grounds that the place was being monitored by White and his men. In the end she'd been able to escape under her own power and even do some rather satisfying damage to White on the way.

Logan and Max still weren't really talking to him about that episode but Alec was taking his side. He wasn't sure if that was simply because they were together and that Alec did feel the same way as Max and Logan.

Now though things were finally making sense to Riley. The normalcy of joining his boyfriend for lunch twice a week countered the strangeness of stalking known members of White's 'gang' for the rest of the day.

Riley slipped off his bike and nodded to Cece as he passed into the building. The female X-5 that had joined Max and Alec at the messenger service had finally started to trust him not to try to kill her and Riley had to wonder how he had gotten such a dangerous reputation. Did they all think he'd try to kill them all? Another part of his mind kindly pointed out to him that that was exactly the reputation he had and it was that part of him that didn't mind having them all scared of him.

He glanced around the room and instantly caught sight of Alec standing in front of the dispatch desk. He was about to call out to him when he noticed who he was talking to. As soon as he did he started paying attention to the screaming in his head. There were only a few people that set of that kind of reaction in his senses, people with abilities like his own. In other words transgenics from Psy-ops with his own harvested abilities.

He slipped instantly off to the side and away from her line of sight disappearing effortlessly into the mass of messengers as he circled around behind her. He could already make out their conversation and his memory even pulled up the beginning that he had consciously missed.

"No, I do. I'm sure of it." Alec was saying before he frowned trying to remember something. "Back at Manticore. I spent six months in Psy-ops for evaluation. You were there, I never forget a face."

The girl seemed to sigh regretfully. "Can't put anything past you." Riley thought about making a move but he needed to know her ability before he did anything. He was immune to them all but that didn't mean Alec was.

"Not now, not ever." Alec told her smugly and Riley almost rolled his eyes. One of Alec's problems was that he was starting to trust people too easily. Riley was the one that had to distrust everything for the both of them but after finding out that he had a whole other world coming after him - something he still hadn't told Alec more about - he had a right to that mind set. "Now what was your specialty again? Was it, uh, hypnosis? Telekinesis?"

"Telecoercion actually." The girl told him. She was acting before Riley could do anything and Alec's eyes took on a strange mindless glint for a half second.

"Right…" Alec mumbled.

"Hi." The girl greeting Alec cheerfully. "I'm Mia."

"Alec, nice to meet you." Alec returned without a clue, no longer having the memories of the last few minutes of conversation.

Riley barely suppressed his growl before slipping around the corner as Alec walked away with Sketchy. Normal came back to the counter and Riley listened into the conversation even though he could no longer see it. "Here you go. I gotta warn you though, I've got a stack of résumés in there as high as my tush." Normal told her.

"Uh-hu," Mia paused for a moment and Riley could imagine her manipulating Normal too. "Can I be a dispatcher?"

"Yeah." Normal told her cheerfully. "Nothing less will do."

"Neat." Mia's voice said before a new voice joined the conversation.

"Hey, do I know you?" Max asked and Riley frowned from his hiding place.

"I don't think so, since I just started working here today. I'm a dispatcher." Mia announced happily. "It's really fun."

"Yeah, I guess." Riley could almost hear the frown in Max's voice. Why would a telecoercer want a job here? Riley knew better then to think it coincidence that she'd be working here with Max and Alec especially after wiping Alec's memory when he posed no threat to her position here and also the fact that Max had evidently met her somewhere else and been brain washed too.

Riley shook his head and slipped from the room pulling out his mobile as he did to call Alec and apologise for having to miss their lunch meeting. If Mia had a plan then Riley wanted to know more about it and didn't want her to see him first.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Crash

He had agreed with Alec to meet him at Crash after Alec got off work to make up for skipping lunch on him and he arrived on his own to a full club. He could see Alec talking with Mia at the bar and also Max talking to Original Cindy across the room. Also Logan had evidently arrived moments before him since he was heading in Max's direction. Deciding to keep this professional and not blow his cover so early on he vaulted the side of the railing and dropped down into the back of the bar shocking a couple who had been snogging there.

He slipped through the crowd and sat in a chair with his back to where Mia sat but where he could just see Max and Logan sitting together. Both were in earshot and he monitored Alec and Mia's conversation with half an ear while he concentrated on what Logan was saying.

"Wanted to talk to you earlier." Logan told him, Max made a permissive grunt, she evidently wasn't happy with the man and Riley smirked. "When you said you wanted to stick with the mission?"

"Okay…" Max gave him permission to continue.

"Because I got a tip Dougie's gonna be back at the club tomorrow night. Now, if you were serious about taking another run at him, that'd be the time." Logan told her. Riley frowned. Evidently Max had gone to meet Dougie at this club and something had happened to end it. Could it be that Mia wiped Max's memory of the event or told her to end it? It was a bit far-fetched and full of assumptions but it was also plausible and fit with Mia's sudden appearance on scene and the fact Max had already had a run in with her.

He missed the rest of the conversation, or more precisely he ignored it since it was just an argument before Logan stood to go to the bar, heading for where Alec and Mia were talking.

Riley half turned so that he could see the bar and it's occupants and watched as Logan walked up to it. He stood and began making his way across the club to an empty space on the far side of Mia, listening to their conversation the whole time.

"Hey, Alec." Logan greeted neutrally.

"Logan." Alec responded with a dip of the head.

"Hi, I'm Mia." Said girl introduced herself cheerfully.

"I'm Logan, nice to meet you." Logan shook her hand respectfully.

"Logan." Mia caught his eyes and Riley took advantage of her distraction to sidle up to the bar where neither Alec, Mia nor Logan could see him. Though if it wasn't for the fact that Alec was staring at Logan his boyfriend would have surely noticed him. "I think there's something that Alec wants to say to you."

She caught Alec's eyes for a moment but Riley was too interested in what she was doing to intervene. He could easily stop it from happening by getting between the two after all and Mia couldn't force somebody to become self-destructive. Manticore had tried that but the mind couldn't be forced to inadvertently cause damage to it's own body. Alec spoke up with sudden enthusiasm. "Yeah, Logan, I just…wanted to say that I understand why Max admires you so much. Sometimes I wish I had more of a purpose in life."

Riley frowned. Mia couldn't necessarily make somebody lie without telling them exactly what to say, which she hadn't. Did Alec really feel he didn't have a purpose and why the hell hadn't Riley taken notice of Alec if that was how he felt? "Logan, is there something you'd like to say to Alec?"

"Well, it's just that…" Logan paused. "I don't know, sometimes I wish I was more of a free spirit, and...it must be nice to be a happy-go-lucky sociopath. Kinda envy you."

Riley almost snorted in amusement. Alec was far from a happy-go-lucky sociopath. He might act that way but it was only because he wanted to be that way. In truth he was just like Riley in his views and attitudes. They'd been in each other's company for their entire teenage and adult lives after all.

"Awww…" Mia sighed. "Group hug!" Riley almost laughed as Logan and Alec hugged.

"Uh…guys?" Sketchy suddenly appeared next to them with an empty glass and a confused look on his face.

Alec and Logan snapped out of their daze and looked at each other uncomfortably for a moment. "Okay, later." Alec announced before slipping across the room to find an empty table to wait for Riley. Riley thought about following him but Logan was staying with Mia and he wanted to know more about what Mia wanted.

"So, you're Max's boyfriend, right?" Mia asked.

"Something like that." Mia caught his eye and he spoke more honestly. "Actually, I'm crazy about her."

"Well, then, why aren't you together?" She asked as Riley ordered himself a drink when the barman paused in front of him.

"Oh, it's a long story." Logan told her avoiding the truth but Mia wasn't fooled.

"Oh, I love long stories." She assured him before catching his eyes again. "Besides, I've got oodles of time."

'Oodles?' Riley thought to himself ironically. That definitely wasn't Manticore terminology.

"Well, I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but...a secret government agency called Manticore infected her with a deadly virus that's genetically targeted to my DNA." Logan told her innocently and Riley had to admit that when Manticore cooked her up from his own DNA they'd done a really good job. Logan probably wouldn't even remember admitting to knowing what Manticore was or that they'd wanted him dead.

"Bummer." Mia half smiled at him as she obviously noticed there was more to the human then she had first guessed. "Why'd they do that?"

"They wanted to kill me." Logan admitted. Riley thought about stopping her but she'd find it out eventually from one of them when Riley couldn't protect them all. He'd let her get her information and then threaten her nice and peacefully.

"How come?" She asked as Riley accepted his drink and passed the barman a five dollar bill.

"Oh, because I'm Eyes-Only." Riley imagined a world without the Pulse where Manticore was in control of America. With breakthroughs like Mia around with the X-5s to enforce their rules it would only be too easy to find and kill targets. Nobody could hide if somebody like Mia could find out who Logan was with only a few questions when people had been hunting for him for years.

"Really?" Mia smiled at Logan. Logan smiled back before being handed his own drink. Riley made his move as Mia watched him walk away back to Max.

"They designed you just perfectly didn't they." Riley pointed out quietly. Mia spun to face him in surprise. Riley had maintained his casual appearance leaning on one elbow on the counter but his right hand was now holding his pistol against her side so that nobody but the two of them knew it was there.

"You don't want to point that at me." Mia caught his eye and Riley just smiled. He let the gun sag slightly to make her think it had worked. "What's your name?" She asked more cheerfully. Evidently she hadn't recognised him like he had recognised her.

"Riley." He told her before snapping his gun back into her side with a smirk on his lips. "Or should I have you call me 862. I'm immune to your little tricks or have you forgotten that your abilities were spawned from my DNA."

"How much did you hear?" She caved.

"I saw you playing your tricks on Alec and Normal at Jam Pony and decided to follow you to find out why you were there and what your interest in working there was. I figure Alec is just collateral but what is your interest in Max?" Riley asked.

"It's so sweet to see you back with Max. I don't remember her from Manticore." Mia dodged the question.

"But you remember me, Mia. You know that I'd sooner kill you then let you dodge that question again. Spill it or you die." Riley told her.

"I've got a little plan running to help a friend of mine out of trouble with his boss before he gets killed and I need Eyes-Only to do it." Mia admitted.

"Dougie?" Riley asked making her go even paler as she realised how much he already knew. "And where does Alec come into this?"

"He doesn't yet. But I might need him. If I can trick Dougie's boss into being out in the open and get him mad enough at Dougie then he might give his boss up to the authorities and me and him can get on with our lives." Mia told him.

"You're in love with a human?" Riley asked with a raised eyebrow.

"He's immune to my telecoercion." She told him. Riley sighed and put the gun away and turned back to the bar.

"I'm going to let you do this plan of yours but I swear to you that if you do something to hurt Alec then I will hunt you down." Riley glared at her. "And you know how good at that I am."

"I don't intend to get anybody else hurt. That's not my specialty." Mia retorted. Riley snorted in amusement.

"If you don't mind, your mind games have already cost me half a night with my boyfriend." Riley stood up and walked away knowing that she was watching him head for Alec's table. Riley leant down and kissed Alec on the lips before sitting next to him. He looked up and flashed Mia a smirk. He wanted to point out just how mad he'd be if Alec got hurt.

He was tempted to warn Alec about what Mia was but knew that if Mia was serious then Alec would simply be made to forget again. As long as Mia didn't risk Alec's life then Riley was happy to let her do what she wanted. Either way though, he'd have to give up watching White for the time being until this had blown over.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next day

Riley woke was up and ready for the day before Alec even woke up. They spent the night tiring each other out until about four o'clock and obviously Alec had been tired out more than Riley since he'd slept till seven. A whole three hours was an immense amount of time if they weren't actually injured.

"What are you doing up?" Alec asked. Normally Riley lounged in bed until just after Alec left.

"I was planning to come to Jam Pony's with you this morning." Riley told him.

"Why?"

"What? You don't want me there? I suppose I could just ignore you then." Riley teased.

"Ha, very funny." Alec rolled his eyes. "Seriously, why?"

"The psyops girl." Riley smirked.

"Who?" Alec frowned. "Hang on you mean Mia? Of course." He looked like he was about to slap himself in the head for not realising. "How could I not notice? I remember her from the evaluation."

"Actually you did realise." Riley pointed out. "The first time you saw her. She just made you forget."

"Huh?"

"Telecoercion, tried it on me but I'm immune to all of those in psyops with my genes." Riley shrugged. Alec already knew this bit. "I threatened her but now I'm going to keep an eye on her."

"I can do that." Alec protested.

Riley walked over to him as he pulled up his trousers and went to pick up a shirt for the day. He ran his hands across Alec's stomach before leaning up and pecking him on the lips. "I know you can look after yourself but as soon as you see her she'll just make you forget about what she is. I already know her plan, I'm just going to make sure she carries it out and doesn't get anyone hurt."

"And there isn't really much point in telling me the plan is there?" Alec sighed and pulled his shirt over his head.

"Not really no. I'll tell you once everything's finished or I think you should have a choice in what she has in mind." Riley smiled across at Alec before chucking him his wallet and phone. "Come on, I'll give you a lift, I happen to know your bike got left there yesterday."

Alec rolled his eyes but grabbed Riley's offered hand to be led down to his motorcycle and to work.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Alec walked into the building before Riley but he was quick to catch up though. When they passed the dispatch desk it was to see Mia behind it rather then Normal. Riley ducked back against the wall before she could see him, he wanted to let Alec deal with her on his own.

"Morning." Alec greeted her warily, his expression making it clear he was wary of her.

"Riley told you?" Mia said with her normal cheerfulness having probably expected no less. "Why's he got to go spoil my fun?"

"Ever heard of rude. You better not take my memories of Riley away." Alec told her pointedly not even bothering to try to avoid being hit with the ability much to both Riley and Mia's shock. It was logical anyway since she'd had at least ten opportunities to do it already and would have hundreds more over the day. Alec could also see Riley to one side and knew he wouldn't let anything bad happen.

"Couldn't do that if I wanted to sweetie, he's too far entrenched." Riley gave Alec a reassuring smile so he could see it out of the corner of his eye even as Mia caught his eyes and used her ability. "Oh! It's so exciting." She suddenly announced.

"What is?" Alec frowned wondering what his new dispatcher was talking about.

"Well, that you are getting back into the ring and coming out of retirement!" Mia announced in an excited tone.

"I am?" Alec asked confused but then realisation came across his features.

"Just in time for the big elimination fight tomorrow night!" Mia told him as if congratulating him.

"Do my ears deceive me?" Normal appeared beside Alec and put an arm over his shoulders. Riley was tempted to punch the man but reigned in the feeling. "Monty Cora rides again?"

"I'm back, baby!" Alec almost seemed resigned and he shot Riley a hopeless look knowing that Riley wouldn't be pleased with this revelation since he'd already shouted at Alec the first time he had found out that Alec had been boxing in the open and gotten himself captured by White just after Manticore was destroyed.

"Oh! Oh, lovely! Do you know how long I've been waiting to hear this? This right here; magnificence!" Normal gestured to Alec. "Shirtless muscle, rippling, sweat flying off like a thousand points of light."

Riley almost gagged. "He's one of my bigger fans." Alec told Mia with a desperate glance at Riley as Normal fawned over him.

"You're my hero. I live to serve you. I had this dream about you the other night. You were this Roman gladiator, and you slew barbarians and Medusa-like women, and I was your tiny little valet." Riley almost laughed at Normal's description. "I wiped your sword clean after every sweet victory. I rubbed your tired, beautiful, golden muscles…"

"Hot run, Fourth and Main." Alec shouted dodging out of Normal's grip to grab a package from the counter before running for his bike. He sent Riley an apologetic glance as he ran passed. Riley smiled at him and signed that he'd stay there for a while.

Normal strolled off into the room and Riley spun around to appear in the dispatch window. Mia almost screamed at his sudden appearance and Riley smirked. "You didn't think I'd let Alec come to work on his own with you around to mess with him."

"Riley!" Mia gasped suddenly not looking so confident.

"I'm guessing that putting Alec back in the lime light a second time is part of your new plan?" Riley asked but they were interrupted as Max appeared looking confused and rather down.

"Riley?" She asked in confusion.

"Just dropped Alec off, he left his bike here." Riley told her deciding it was better not to mention Mia. There was no telling how many times she'd already had the ability used against her.

"Oh." Max said before turning to Mia. "Hi."

"Oh, sweetie, what's wrong?" Mia asked seeing the depressed mood that Riley had purposefully ignored. "Is it Logan?"

"Yeah." Max sighed.

"Listen, everything's going to work out, okay?" Mia asked.

"You really think so?" Max sounded desperate and Riley frowned. Maybe Logan wouldn't be so bad for her but then again he was still a rather high priority target for everybody that wanted Transgenics in cages and he was a liability but if an argument between Logan and Max could make her so depressed then maybe he should do something about it. He tried to imagine Alec and him getting into such a fight and wondered how that would make him feel.

"We'll talk, come to Crash later."

"I can't." Max sighed. "I promised Logan I'd do this thing for him."

"At the 49 Club, with Dougie?" Mia surprised Riley with her candidness in front of himself since he was now leaning on the desk to one side of the conversation. He saw their eyes meet and suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and laugh. "You don't have to worry about that."

"Wait, how'd you know?" Max asked with a frown.

Mia met her eyes again. "Never mind, forget I said anything. Meet me at Crash tonight?"

"Okay." Max wandered off.

Riley chuckled as she walked off. "You know I find this rather amusing." He admitted.

"I hate doing it but it's for Dougie's sake." Mia told him.

"As long as it doesn't harm them then I'm happy. So spill it." Riley snapped. "Why are you making Alec fight again?"

"So that Dougie's boss can win a ton of money by betting on Alec as Dougie will tell him and then I'll get Max to make him lose the last fight." She told him. "That'll make Dougie's boss lose a lot of money and with Logan there and the broadcast he's going to make tonight as Eyes-Only, Dougie can point out his boss and me can move somewhere like the Bahamas with all the money I'll win by betting against Alec on the last fight."

"And how did you plan on making Alec lose the last fight?" Riley asked. Her plan was impressive actually. "He's no push over."

"Well since I doubt I could get you to fight against him." She paused and Riley shook his head in the negative. "I'll just get Max to force it."

"Alec can easily beat Max in a fair fight, though that hasn't been tested." Riley warned her. They only fight they'd got in had been when Alec had been sent out to see the effect of the Virus and he'd only lost because Logan had pulled a gun on him when he'd had Max pinned.

"It's a good thing that there isn't any rules in this fight then." Mia told him.

"I'm only going to say this once Mia, I'll be there at the fight tomorrow." Riley told her. "Alec stopped fighting because White caught up to him. His appearance as Monty Cora is going to attract White's goons and I wont let him get taken. One sign of White and this plan ends I promise you that. I rate Alec's life as much higher than any other. That includes you and Dougie."

"What about Max's?" Mia asked.

Riley narrowed his eyes and leaned into her. "I'd choose Alec's life over my own in a heartbeat. Max chose her own over me a long time ago. It's an easy decision."

"And this Virus?" Mia asked.

"What about it?" Riley snapped.

"It's the standard one as far as I can tell which means one simple transfusion of your blood into Max and the Virus is dead." Mia told him.

"And Max has one more weakness in this world." Riley told her. "Logan's a useful idiot at times but an idiot all the same. He's digging too deep into a world that is far beyond him. I was set on his trail and I'd found out his identity and captured him within a day. If Manticore hadn't been taken down then he'd have already been captured, they'd already have all of our names out of him and we'd all be on the run. I wont let her get close if I have to kill him to keep his mouth shut."

"And there was me thinking you'd gotten soft." Mia told him.

"I'll never get soft Mia." Riley snapped. "Mention this to Max or Logan and your plan ends."

Riley spun on his heels and stalked out of the building to go for a ride to clear his head. He hadn't liked Mia pointing out his own deeper feelings like that.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

That evening

After finding more out about Mia's plan, Riley decided he'd rather stay away from everyone. He hated to admit it but something she had said had struck true, his blood held the key to Max's happiness. Could he really justify not giving his own sister the chance to be with Logan.

He sat on the low wall with his back to a the staircase building on the roof of Alec's apartment block. His left foot lay loosely over the edge while the other was up to his chest. He'd sat up here now for four hours after getting home that afternoon. He knew that eventually Alec would return from Crash and find the note Riley had left him to explain his presence.

He wasn't mistaken either when he heard the door open across the roof from the other stair well building. He saw Alec's distinctive silhouette appear in front of the small flickering light above the door and knew that Alec would have already seen him. He watched as Alec walked across the roof and straightened his legs out in front of him in invitation for Alec to sit there. Alec knelt with his legs on either side of his own so that they faced each other.

"What's the matter?" Alec asked him.

"Nothing." Riley told him more because it was complicated over simply not wanting to dump it all on Alec.

"I don't believe that." Alec told him. "Is it because I'm fighting tomorrow? I don't know why I'm doing it, it's stupid and it could get both of us in trouble."

Riley smiled up at him kindly and shook his head ever so slightly. "It wasn't your choice, Mia made you agree."

"Mia?" Alec frowned. "Shit, I can't believe I let her do that! Were you there?"

"Yeah, don't worry." Riley assured him. "I know her whole plan. Do you think you could throw the last fight tomorrow?"

"You want me to lose on purpose?" Alec seemed shocked. If they were trained with one mindset it was to never allow themselves to fail. Failing on purpose was an odd concept for them. Riley only ever did it if he wanted his opponent to underestimate him or when he had allowed himself to be shot.

"She needs some people to bet on you to win for the whole night and then lose everything in the last fight." Riley explained. If he could convince Alec to lose the fight then Mia wouldn't have to do something underhanded like put Max in the ring and let her do something nasty to Alec. Faced with Max in a fight, Riley knew that Alec would hold his punches in some strange desire to make up for passed wrongs even though he didn't have any choice in most of the things he had done. "Would you feel better if I fought and beat you rather than Max?"

"What?" Alec seemed shocked. He knew that Riley could beat him in a fight easily like he could with all other X-5s. "But we're already risking me getting seen by White, he thinks you're dead and will come after you with a vengeance if he sees you're alive. I can't let you do that. I'll let Max win."

"You're going to let Max win?" Riley asked with a chuckle.

"Yeah, what better way to hold it over her that I let her win." Alec laughed. "I'll just wait for her to try to do something underhanded and then fake a fall."

"You're amazing, you know that." Riley told him before kissing him deeply.

"I know." Alec smirked at him. "Why is she doing all of this anyway?"

"She's in love with a book keeper and wants him to squeal on his boss so they can run off together." Riley rolled his eyes.

"I suppose we can't talk." Alec kissed Riley again soundly. "You're not going to bet against me are you?"

"Nah, don't really need the money." Riley assured him. "I'd rather stick with my principles."

"So why are you so down?" Alec asked and Riley nearly swore, he'd managed to avoid answering that properly since the beginning of the conversation.

"Can I ask you something?" Riley asked and received a nod. "If you were me would you cure Max so she and Logan could 'get busy'?" He asked with a shudder mimicking Joshua.

"If I had the cure in me then sure but if I was you then I'm not sure." Alec sighed. "I think I'd give it to her on the principle of keeping Logan alive and giving them a chance to be happy but she wronged you first."

"But I've wronged them since then." Riley pointed out.

"And made up for it by freeing Logan, rescuing the two X-5s you kidnapped and then by helping save Case." Alec added the last one before Riley could contest the first two since it had been him that had put them in harms way in the first place.

"So you think I should?" Riley asked.

"I think that if Logan's at risk then you should cure him, just like me or Joshua could, but whether you cure her is up to you." Alec sighed and dropped his head against Riley's so that their foreheads met.

"But you would?" Riley concluded.

"I would, yeah, but I'm not you. I failed somebody I loved once before, I'm not willing to do it again." Alec told him. "You've always come through for those that you care about even after they hurt you."

"I'm not heartless." Riley whispered though he didn't know whether it was in agreement with Alec's words or an argument against them.

"You're not heartless." Alec assured them. They sat like that for most of the night, taking the rare opportunity to just spend hours together in silence, something that Alec found very hard to do in normal circumstances.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Jam Pony

Riley went with Alec to work once again and this time Normal barely even glanced at him as he accosted Alec straight off. Riley walked over to the dispatch desk to talk to Mia and came across Max as she too arrived. She looked like hell with a black eye.

"Morning!" Mia greeted them both cheerfully.

"Hi, Mia." Max half smiled at her.

"What the hell happened to you?" Riley tried not to laugh imagining her getting beat up by some five year old. Not possible unless they drugged her or something but well worth the effort of imagining it all the same.

Max glared at him reproachfully. "Craziest thing." Max frowned. "Just woke up this morning and it was there. No idea how it happened."

Riley raised an eyebrow in Mia's direction with an ironic look on his face. Mia caught Max's eye for a second. "Seems to me like you slipped in the shower and banged yourself on the shampoo caddy. Must've hurt like the dickens."

"That's so weird?" Max frowned.

"What is?" Riley asked playing along.

"That's exactly what happened. Slipped in the shower, banged my head on the shampoo caddy. Hurt like the dickens." Max repeated word for word.

"Thought so." Mia sighed reproachfully. "You should be more careful, Max."

"Yeah, thanks I will." Max wandered off.

Riley turned to Mia. "X-5s do not slip in the shower, we don't slip at all." Riley told her sternly.

She smirked at him to show that she had done that particular story for that particular reason. "Max evidently did." She told him with a smile.

"You beat her up didn't you?" Riley asked guessing correctly.

"She found me and Dougie last night so I had to do something." Mia shrugged.

"And wiping her memory wasn't enough so you had to punch her too?" Riley asked.

"Actually I punched her before wiping her memory." Mia shrugged again. Riley burst out laughing.

"Oh, by the way. Alec knows who you are again." Riley told her simply. She frowned but Riley waved her off with a careless gesture. "He agreed to throw the last fight against Max. I think he likes the idea of letting her win and holding that over her head. I think he's been feeling suppressed."

Mia winced. "You heard what he said at Crash the other night?"

"About thinking that he didn't have a purpose in life?" Riley asked before sighing. "Maybe this will help prove otherwise, that's partly why I let him know the plan, at least the part he was involved with. So do me a favour and leave his mind intact from no on?"

"Sure thing." Mia told him. "I could always ask him why he feels that way."

"Nah." Riley shook his head. "I'm not much of a boyfriend if I can't work that out for myself or can't get him to tell me himself."

"See you tonight?" Mia asked.

"I'll be there but you won't see me until the end." Riley told her before turning away. He paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Nice broadcast last night by the way." Riley told her referring to the Eyes-Only broadcast she had forced from Logan.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

That night

Riley stood above the room on a walkway that served as an observation balcony when the room had been a formal ball room. It now hosted three large angled seating arrays, a betting booth and the central ring with its cage walls illuminated by bright lights. The balcony Riley stood on was dusty and shadowy in contrast, the door he had used to get here had been locked with a rusty chain and lock that he had easily picked to get in and then locked behind him. He could stay here in the shadows and watch everything that happened without being noticed himself.

He saw Logan and Max arrived as they had predicted as well as Mia's arrival and even though she had looked at the balcony expecting Riley to be there she hadn't noticed him as he hid deeper in the shadows. He had no doubt however that she knew he was there. Alec knew where he was as soon as he entered the Ring for the first time since Riley had moved into the light to reassure his boyfriend that he was there.

It wasn't until Riley saw Logan sneak out of the room and return five minutes later with Matt Sung, the police detective that Riley had threatened that once, that Riley knew things were about to heat up. Alec was announced as winner until Max entered the Ring and demanded a fight, confident in her ability to beat him. The fight was held off for a few minutes as Max warmed up and people were allowed to place bets. He saw the ridiculous odds in Alec's favour and was amused when he saw Mia walk up to the betting booth. Obviously she planned on making some money out of this and since she had put so much work into this Riley decided that he didn't mind it that much even though she was betting against Alec.

Riley pulled a small TV screen from his pocket for the third time in the last five minutes just as he had three times every minute since arriving. It was flicking rapidly through the security camera footage at a few scenes every second. Far too fast for any human to see details in but easily slow enough for Riley's transgenic senses to search them for likely suspects. No white and nobody that looked like one of his agents.

Riley had snuck in earlier and placed two items around the building. The first was a data-theft device that copied the security camera images and sent them to the screen he was holding so the buildings cameras were working for him. The other was a smoke bomb set under the betting booths on a remote detonator set to the trigger in his pocket. If he spied trouble or White he'd detonate the smoke bomb and fill the room with smoke. He could then move about the room without being seen and get Alec out while people panicked about a real bomb or fire.

The bell rung and reminded him of the fight and he trained his hearing through the shouts and cheers as Alec played his part and let Max beat him around a bit. It wasn't part of the plan but since Max was accusing him of different things, Riley assumed that Alec was seriously in letting her beat him around a bit especially after he braced for only one of the attacks, the first one when Max told him it was for the Virus.

Riley smirked though as Riley finished accepting the accusatory blows and tensed up. "Okay, that's it." He smirked nastily. "This is for what you did to Riley."

Max's eyes widened in concern, Alec had never had a go at her on Riley's behalf apart from the odd guilt trip months ago when they had first been freed from Manticore. Alec caught her kick effortlessly, punched her before slamming her to the ground. Max might be better at street fighting then either Alec or Riley but when it came to martial forms and coordinated fights she came up seriously short. She just didn't have the training that they did.

Ten years of intense training in Manticore couldn't be beaten by Max even if she had spent the years out of Manticore training in Martial Arts. It just wasn't the same. Max sent her across the cage into the all before she could regain her stance. Max evidently knew she was outmatched in this type of fight and obviously decided that using the 'no rules' part of the fight was her best chance.

"Oh look at that. Ring girl's lost her top." Riley almost rolled his eyes. Alec was Riley's boyfriend and even if most Manticorians didn't care about the male-female lines when it came to sex it was a rather stupid thing to expect Alec to fall for even if Alec had been flirting with the girl for the whole fight. Alec however took the opportunity to throw the fight and he glanced to the side. Max took the opportunity handed to her without second guessing the ease that she had distracted him and she kicked out and hit him in the groin.

Alec moaned out in pain though Riley could see the forced looseness to his muscles. Max's blow had seemed to land and Alec looked believably in pain but Riley knew what Alec looked like in pain since the only times Alec really got beat up were when it was Riley fighting him and the instructors at Manticore had taken great pleasure in trying to force a wedge between them by forcing Riley to beat Alec up in drills. If Riley didn't give the fight his all then they were both beaten far worse for defying orders. Alec wasn't in pain. The blow had probably landed on his inner thigh and whilst painful it wasn't a crippling blow like Alec was pretending it was. He watched as Alec curled up on the Ring's floor and Max left after being declared champion.

Riley wasn't interested in that though as a group of four stood on his left, the smallest of the four was gripped on both sides by two of the others. Mia was standing near the Cage and glanced up at Riley but he simply waved at Logan, Matt Sung and the policemen making their way through the cheering crowd. Riley glanced through the pictures on his TV screen for another few moment before vaulting the edge of the balcony and falling the ten feet to the ground below. Obviously White and his goons hadn't caught wind of Monty Cora fighting again or had an believed that no Transgenic would be stupid enough to make such an appearance.

He made his way around the room until he was on the upper level of the table and chair arrangements set aside for the richer clients of the betting club. He ignored the few people still sitting up here as if they weren't here. The only people that interested him were those just below him. He was going to make sure that Alec hadn't just risked himself for no reason.

He caught sight of Mia being accosted by Max as she tried to make her way over to them all and he waved over at them discreetly making sure that Max saw him waving at Mia like he knew her, which he did.

"We're ready to take you into protective custody." Matt Sung told who Riley assumed was Dougie. "Just say the word."

"You won't get as good an offer from the boss." Logan pointed out. "Tell us who he is and you get a fresh start."

"Come on Books. Let's go. Come on." One of the other men told him. It wasn't a request. Dougie eyed them all nervously.

"All you have to do is point a finger." Logan requested kindly.

Dougie glanced around probably looking for Mia who was hidden behind the policemen, finally he looked at the other men around him who were trying to force him to leave with them. Eventually though he spun around and point right passed Riley to one of the women seated at the table about a metre behind him and to his left. Everybody looked up but ignored Riley.

The woman in question, or rather man in a bad disguise that Riley had unconsciously noticed and passed off as just a man who wanted to dress as a woman, sprung to his feet and tried to dash past Riley and towards the exit. Riley took in everything in an instant. Matt Sung went to dash after him while others grabbed the other men and pulled Dougie to safety. Riley simply reached out a hand and grabbed the fleeing man by the back of the throat and his upper left arm arresting his fleeing in one brutal move. He spun the man off balance and forced him to his knees letting his head hit the railing in the process. He held him down as all of the policemen's guns were aimed at him and his captive.

Riley rolled his eyes before standing. He didn't offer any type of surrender but met Matt Sung's eyes and waited for the recognition. "Stand down." Matt Sung ordered. "When did the Feds get involved in this?"

"They didn't." Riley told him with a smirk seeing the surprised looks on Logan's, Max's and Mia's faces before they realised he did still have a federal ID. "Personal grudge." He explained with a knowing look at Mia who smiled at him disarmingly.

"Thanks." Matt Sung told him still rather confused, probably remembering their last meeting.

"I wasn't here." Riley muttered as he walked passed the detective, passed Dougie and Logan to where Mia and Max were standing. He sent a smirk at Max before smiling at Mia. "Everything went to plan so stop screwing with Alec's head."

She smiled up at him gratefully. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Riley made his way over to a still acting Alec and put on his best concern face before sitting down beside him letting Normal fawn over his boyfriend. Alec smirked up at him with a glint in his eyes. The room slowly cleared and Riley kept checking his TV for signs that White knew they were there but he never arrived and soon they were among the last few left. Riley placed a quick kiss on Alec's forehead and made his way over to where Mia was talking to Max and Logan. Dougie was asleep at a table behind them.

"Now, wait a second. You wanted Dougie to flip?" Logan asked in confusion. Riley found it nice to see him confused, not to mention out-manipulated.

"I've been trying to get him out of this life since the day we met. That's why I had you do the Eyes Only hack." Mia explained. "To push Dougie into doing the right thing."

"So this whole thing was a setup?" Max asked.

"And a really good one too." Riley interrupted with a smirk on his lips.

"Uh-huh." Mia agreed ignoring Riley's words. "I knew you guys would show up here as soon as you got onto me. Plus I knew you'd do whatever it took to help keep Dougie from running off."

"You were in on this?" Max rounded on Riley who was leaning against the chair back beside Mia.

"Of course." Riley shrugged. "Mia didn't have a choice to explain it to me after I recognised her."

"He would have put a stop to it otherwise." Mia admitted.

"Why didn't you just wipe his mind like you did to Max?" Logan asked.

"And Alec." Max suddenly added realising that if Riley had been in on it that Alec must have realised something especially after Alec had mentioned knowing her before.

"I'm immune to all of those in psyops." Riley shrugged. "They used my DNA to create their abilities so their abilities can't affect me."

"So you let this all run out?" Logan asked.

"Why not?" Riley shrugged again. "You got the boss, Mia got her Dougie and as long as Mia didn't get Alec in trouble by going in the Ring again I didn't mind."

A man walked up to Mia and handed her a large bag of money. "Here you go miss."

"Thank you." Mia smiled at him.

"What's that?"

"My winnings." Mia smirked.

"You bet on me?" Max sounded shocked.

"Of course." Mia said in faked surprise as she dropped the bag next to Dougie.

"How did you know I'd win?" Max asked.

"Because girls kick arse." Mia said seriously and Riley snorted in amusement. "That's what the t-shirt says right?"

"Now wait a second. If you wanted to get Dougie to quit the life, why didn't you just do your little thing to make him do what you wanted?" Logan asked logically.

"You know, I think that's why I love him so much. He's totally immune to me. I think it's because his brain wiring's a bit screwy on account of his condition." Mia said honestly.

"So you like not having him wrapped around his finger?" Logan asked.

"Yeah, what fun is being in love if everything is easy?" Mia asked with a pointed look at the two that Riley didn't miss. It was meant for him. At least he knew her opinion to his problem.

Normal and Alec hobbled over and Riley almost laughed at the acting from Alec who would easily be fully recovered from his blow. "Look what you did to him! What the hell are you?"

"Normal honey?" Mia asked catching his eye. "You need to forget everything you saw here tonight." Riley prodded her lightly and she continued. "Why don't you go home and have one of those nice Gladiator dreams you like so much?"

He nodded and instantly let go of Alec and walked off out of the door. Alec glanced to the side before straightening up with a sigh. "Ah, that's better. I thought he'd never leave."

"Here you go." Mia tossed Alec a bit of money. "Sorry for making you throw the last fight."

"He didn't throw the last fight!" Max stepped in eyeing Alec and Riley's smirk.

"You really think that distracting me from a fight is that easy?" Alec asked. "I threw the fight. Riley and I just decided to have some fun with you in the meantime."

"But I kicked you." Max frowned.

"In the thigh." Alec pointed out. "I dodged."

"I asked him to throw the fight when I explained the plan to him. His pride wouldn't let him lose to a human though and he didn't want to get the shit beaten out of him by me." Riley smirked and dodged the playful swat at his head. "We figured you'd fight dirty and used that as a believable way for him to lose the fight."

"Now I can say I let you win." Alec bounced on his feet slightly.

Max glanced between the two probably thinking that she would have been a bit out of her depth against Alec in a fair fight, that was why she had cheated in the first place. She just hadn't realised that Alec would think of that and actually plan to fall for it. "You two are impossible." She shook her head.

"Ah, but that's why you keep us around." Alec pointed out.

"And because we keep her out of trouble." Riley pointed out. "I mean she did slip over in her own shower." He tried to keep a straight face but Alec's laugh made him lose it and he laughed at her shocked look as she looked between Mia and Riley.

"Very funny!" Max snapped before becoming seriously. "Why would you let Alec fight in the open like this with White on the look out. Isn't it a bit risky?"

Riley pulled out the TV and let Alec and Max watch the pictures flash passed the screen for a moment. He could see Logan's eyes widen as he tried to take in the details and fail. "It's a patch into the building camera network. I've been keeping an eye out for White or his goons all night and there is a bomb under the betting booth that I could have set off if I needed cover to get Alec out if White actually arrived."

"A bomb?" Logan frowned.

"Smoke bomb." Max waved his concern off knowing that Riley would never had set off am explosive bomb around so many people. Riley nodded his agreement to her assumption.

"All right Dougie." Mia suddenly spoke up placing the bag of money squarely on his lap to wake him up. "Time to go."

"Where? Where are we going?" Dougie jolted up in surprise.

"Maui!" Mia giggled. "Come on, we've got a plane to catch."

She darted forwards and kissed Logan on the cheek. "You are a beautiful, talented man." She turned to Max with a smile. "And you? You couldn't be a more rocking, awesome chick if you tried. You two are going to have the best life together. You're so perfect for each other. I know life stinks a little right now, but it can't always stink, right? Believe me. If Dougie and I can make it work, so can you. Always remember that, okay?"

Max nodded and Mia turned to Alec and hugged him. "Thanks for doing this." She turned and hugged Riley. "See you're not as bad as you wanted everyone in Manticore to think are you." She lowered her voice. "Just think about what I said, they had a right to happiness even if you don't think it's possible between us and humans. Look at Dougie and me."

Riley hung his head slightly for a second before nodding at her with a sad smile on his lips that confused Max and Logan who hadn't seen him so chastised before even if they hadn't heard what she had said.

"All right, Nappy." Mia announced. "Time to go!"

The two left with a last wave and Riley turned to Alec. "You look ridiculous like that you know?" He said quietly gesturing to his overly large embroidered shorts.

"Can't really be mad at her." Max pointed out. "I mean you got your guy."

"And she got hers." Logan agreed. The two nodded to Alec and Riley and walked off towards the door muttering between each other.

"Love birds the lot of them." Riley sighed glancing at the two walking away.

"And what do you call us?" Alec chuckled.

"Sensible." Riley pointed out without loosing his slightly ironic expression. "Let's go."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

End Chapter