Walking Wounded
Disclaimer: I claim no rights to Dark Angel, or any of the characters you find here.
Spoilers: Set one month after the events of Exit Strategy, which included spoilers for the entire series.
A/N: I apologize for the incredibly long time between chapters, my hard drive died, taking all my work with it, and I kind of lost my inspiration for a while. Rest assured, I'm in this for the long haul- about 6-7 more chapters, according to my outline- and I hope to have them posted more regularly from here on out.
Chapter 13: In Country
Max was in negotiating hell. While the rest of Terminal City's leadership was tied up with Melissa Bycroft and the Alec situation, she was stuck on back-to-back conference calls with some of the most intolerant, stubborn bureaucrats ever voted into office.
The whole thing was totally jacked up from the start, with a dozen different problems on the table, and only a handful of possible solutions. Normally, Lydecker was braving these talks with her; Old Deck was surprisingly adept at dealing with difficult people, and had no trouble keeping everyone on task. Unfortunately, his dance card was chock-full, for the time being, and Max was left to practically fend for herself. Her only ally was Detective Clemente and, his support, while well appreciated, meant little to the ever-growing list of politicians, military and government officials assigned to solving the "transgenic dilemma".
Issue one was Terminal City, ending the barricade and pulling out the military presence surrounding the city. Next up was the matter of the transgenics' freedoms and civil liberties: defining them, and getting them down in ink and rubber-stamped by Congress, all nice and legal. Course, not everyone believed the transgenics deserved those freedoms in the first place, so there was some convincing that had to happen before anything else. And none of those tasks even touched on what to do with the transgenics not living in Terminal City.
"Well, that was uncomfortable," Clemente said. Their last call of the afternoon had just ended, and Max snorted loudly at the understatement.
"Glad to hear we're on the same page," Clemente laughed.
"You think they'll agree to it?" she asked.
"The extradition? They have yet to provide us with another option."
"Unless you count burying their heads in the sand, and hoping we go away."
"Of course," Clemente laughed for a second time.
After the fire, dozens of transgenics had ended up scattered throughout the country. As long as they flew under the radar, played normal, they were relatively safe. Safe, that is, until White outed Manticore in front of Congress. Rumors started to spread, with fear and paranoia close behind. A countrywide manhunt followed. Transgenics were taken into custody on trumped up charges, while others were lynched in the street, like Biggs. The few arrested for actual crimes were never seen again.
The transgenics needed asylum and safety, and Terminal City was as good as it got. The only thing left was convincing the proper authorities into extraditing the captured and affected transgenics to Seattle. Way Max saw it; it was the least they could do.
"They'll come around," Clemente continued reassuringly, "they know it's in everyone's best interest."
"Cause the transgenics' best interest is their number one priority."
Clemente let the awkward pause settle, then forged ahead.
"And how about Miss Bycroft? Any problems so far?"
Max sighed, thankful for the change in topic.
"None that I know of."
"You don't sound very convinced of that," Clemente said. He sounded sympathetic enough, and Max relaxed, balancing her weight to tip her chair back on two legs.
"Problem's not Melissa Bycroft; I'm just a little preoccupied. Lotsa balls to keep in the air, ya know?"
"Alec?" Clemente asked.
Max's chair fell forward abruptly, taking her with it.
"How did you…Did some bulletin go out I wasn't aware of? Terminal City Daily News?"
"No bulletin. Logan called this morning, wanted to keep me in the loop," Clemente replied.
Max rolled her eyes; thankful he wasn't there to see her expression.
"Right."
"Is there some problem with you and…"
"No problem. Like I said, I'm just preoccupied. And I may be a little on edge," she answered honestly.
"Well, aren't you self aware today?"
"I feel like I'm growing as a person."
Max was just relaxing back into their light banter, when a large crash came from outside, followed by raised voices.
"What was that?" Clemente asked.
Max began running through a list of scenarios in her head, dismayed by the number of possibilities. She realized, to her surprise, that she still had no idea whether or not Mole and Lydecker had managed to find Alec, or just how injured Doctor Shankar, or any of the other transgenics Alec attacked, were.
"Sorry, Detective, sounds like I gotta bounce. Got a few heads need knockin' together."
"Don't hesitate to call me for backup. It's been too long since I've had the chance to do some head knocking."
"I think I can handle it. And if I can't, well, I doubt backup will do much good."
Max hung up, and took a deep breath, before standing and heading for her office door.
Original Cindy woke to the sounds of muffled voices arguing at the foot of her stretcher. She pried one eye partly open to observe the scene, and quickly identified the speakers as Luke and Doctor Shankar. A small group of transgenics stood in a half moon behind them, at attention, but unmistakably listening in on the quiet conversation. The entire group, Luke and the doctor included, were covered in a fine film of white dust.
"I'm not leaving until this situation is resolved," Doctor Shankar said, her voice just loud enough for Cindy to hear without straining.
"It's not safe," Luke replied.
Doctor Shankar mumbled something in return, too soft for Cindy to hear.
"I know. You've risked a lot, helping us as much as you have, and that means something, it does. It's more than Manticore ever did for us. Something happens to you now, though…" Luke trailed off. He kept his eyes trained on the floor in front of him, looking slightly ashamed of himself.
Cindy waited for some further explanation; her eyes wide open by now to observe the silent standoff, but both parties remained quiet. The other transgenics looked on with anxious expressions, and Cindy's curiosity rose.
Then, Doctor Shankar threw her head back with a huff and started collecting various medical instruments from around the room, and stuffing them into the red bag Cindy recognized as the one she always brought with her into Terminal City. When she turned her back to continue packing, Cindy noticed a thin trail of dried blood on the side of her head, leading to a pair of butterfly bandages laid along her scalp. Cindy drew a sharp, noisy breath, and every one of the room's occupants turned to face her.
"You're up," Luke said, eyes wide and surprised. Cindy smiled up at him, slow and easy.
"Just doing a little eavesdropping to pass the time," she said.
Luke blinked back at her.
"I gotta admit, I'm all matters of curious about just what you all managed to walk into, got you looking like you spent the afternoon rollin' around in bakin' flour."
Doctor Shankar placed her red bag in the arms of one of the hovering transgenics, the same one who'd reported to Max with Dalton that morning, and leaned over Cindy's stretcher.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, as she examined the bump on Cindy's head and checked her pupils for reactions.
"Just fine doc, nice and well rested. Now, you mind filling me in, or I need a barcode or a PhD to get answers around here?"
Doctor Shankar ignored the question, and kept her attention trained on Cindy's injuries.
Cindy rolled her eyes.
"I see how it is, keep Original Cindy all alone in the dark, even when the whole world's fallin' down around our ears."
The doctor continued flittering around her stretcher, while the rest of the group shifted anxiously around the room, reaching for clean towels and rags to wipe off the strange white residue that covered them. Cindy glanced from one transgenic to another, knew if she could just make eye contact with one of them, the whole story would come tumbling out, but the stubborn little bastards kept their gazes downcast.
"The rest did you well; you can leave whenever you feel up to it. Remember to mind your wrist; I'd suggest having it x-rayed when you get back in the city, just in case," Doctor Shankar said.
"Thanks doc," Cindy replied. She threw back the thin sheet that'd been tucked around her, and swung her legs to the side of the bed. Luke jumped at the sudden movement, and rushed to her side.
"Where are you going?" he asked, his voice a higher octave than usual.
"Imma drag my injured behind to Command, see if I can't get some answers outta someone. Unless one of you plan on fillin' me in anytime soon?"
Luke shook his head. The other transgenics followed, eyes still averted. Doctor Shankar watched Cindy, considering, but in the end just continued packing away her supplies.
"Somebody wanna walk me there?" she asked the room at large. "Keep me safe from whatever's out there, dousin' folks in baby powder?"
The messenger from that morning- Dax, she remembered- stepped forward.
He addressed Luke when he spoke.
"I can lead Miss McEachin back to Command. That is, if that's okay, sir?"
Luke sighed and, looking resigned and rather put upon, nodded towards the door.
"Go ahead, Dax. Zero, can you..."
"Yes, sir," another transgenic, who had already finished cleaning himself off, replied.
"Good," Luke said, "The rest of us will clean up here, then lead the doc to the main gates."
"The main gates? Is that safe?"
Cindy pictured the miles of sewer tunnels she had trudged through that morning, all in the name of safety. From the tiny grin Luke threw her, he had no trouble following her train of thought.
"No choice. Mole says the fastest route's the safest."
Cindy nodded like that made a whit of sense, content to wait for her answers, for now. She said her goodbyes to Luke and the transgenics, thanked Doctor Shankar for her help, and headed into the hall, Dax and Zero trailing behind her.
For the nth time that day, Command was in an uproar. Mole and Lydecker were standing toe-to-toe but, instead of arguing, they were quickly conferring with one another one moment, and barking out orders the next. As Max approached the pair, she noticed Sketchy and Melissa Bycroft being escorted out of Command by no less than ten transgenics, the group surrounding the two humans in a tight formation Max recognized as one commonly used when protecting important Heads of State.
Lydecker called out to her once she got close enough to hear him over the bustle, and motioned for her to head toward the conference room. They arrived at the same time, and Max stepped inside to find Dix, Logan and Agent Gottlieb already waiting.
Gottlieb spoke first.
"We've made contact with your asset, Lydecker. They should be here within the hour."
Mole snorted.
"Great timing, Colonel. They'll get here just in time for the fireworks."
When Lydecker didn't respond, Max took advantage of the ensuing silence.
"Focus, Mole, and report. What's the situation?"
Mole exchanged a cryptic look with Lydecker, who answered for him.
"Our plans have changed. Before we can go forward, 494 needs to be neutralized."
"You couldn't find him?" Logan asked, a hint of incredulity in his voice. Max recognized that tone, it was the one Logan used when things weren't going his way. She was not surprised when Lydecker took a moment to stare him down before replying.
"Obviously not. After he managed to escape his restraints…"
"Again," Mole added.
"Yes again, and attack Doctor Shankar and eight of his fellow transgenics, we made contact, briefly. He made some demands but, before we could negotiate, he set off an explosion…"
Agent Gottlieb sprang to his feet, knocking over his chair as he did so.
"What happened? Was anyone injured? Are you sure it was him?"
Max half listened as Mole and Lydecker answered the agent's questions- it was a small explosion, mostly meant for show. No, no one was injured. Yes, it was definitely Alec- and used the momentary distraction to temper her reaction. By the time Gottlieb was seated again, she was calm and focused, and knew what she wanted to ask, though she suspected she already knew the answer.
"What kind of demands?"
Mole coughed and looked away, strangely hesitant, "He wants Lydecker. Dead, I imagine, but he's only asked for his surrender."
Max nodded, her suspicions confirmed.
"Okay, so we neutralize him."
Mole and Lydecker returned her nod, their faces grim, looking like the hardened military vets they were. For the first time in recent memory, Max was thankful for that, thankful for Manticore. Without their training, and Lydecker's expertise and contacts, there'd be no stopping Alec, and no helping him. Then again, without Manticore, there wouldn't be a dangerous, renegade Alec to stop.
"Where did Alec get the materials to create this explosion in the first place?" Logan asked.
Mole shrugged.
"My best guess, he threw something together from the stuff he found in Shankar's med bag."
"He threw one together? He can do that?" Gottlieb asked. Lydecker replied.
"He's a highly trained government assassin, son. There aren't many things he hasn't been trained to do. We know he's been to the armory, so we're dealing with more than makeshift weapons, now. Mole tells me, there's also a possibility he has his own, private stockpile somewhere in Terminal City."
Max growled in frustration.
"That's just like Alec; forget who he is, but remember the location of his weapons stash."
"To be safe, I say we oughta consider the possibility," Mole said.
"What are we talking about here? What exactly does Alec have stashed away?" Gottlieb asked.
"And better yet, what can 494 do with it?" Logan added.
Berrisford.
They were all thinking it. Father and daughter, blown apart, Rachel Berrisford, knocked into a years-long coma by 494, by a bomb 494 had built. Lydecker broke the uneasy silence, though his words were far from reassuring.
"I can't say. But with the right materials I can tell you, with all certainty, 494 is more than capable of taking out all of Terminal City."
Cindy waited until they were a good 200 feet from the infirmary, before spinning on her escorts, and fixing them with her best no-nonsense glare.
"A'right, which of you two's ready to let Original Cindy into the loop?"
Dax looked to Zero, who merely shook his head at the other boy, and waited patiently for OC to continue walking.
"That's really how you want to play it, huh?"
"We have orders to take you to Command, nothing more, nothing less," Zero replied, determined to stonewall her for the time being. "Mole is there with Max now, and I'm sure one of them will have no trouble filling you in."
Dax nodded his agreement; he looked grateful at having the decision taken out of his hands, and Zero started walking again, confident Cindy would be trailing behind him. But Original Cindy had met her fair share of bullheaded transgenics. She decided to change tactics, from flat out demanding information, to something a bit subtler.
"A'right, I can wait. It's not like anybody's gonna be attacking us between here and Command, right?"
Dax twitched nervously at that, and ran a hand through his hair. Flakes of white powder shook loose, still embedded deep into his hair, despite his best efforts to clean up in the infirmary.
Cindy ignored Dax's discomfort, and the looks of annoyance she caught Zero shooting her, and pressed on.
"So, I've been thinking, that dust you boys were caked in? It looks an awful lot like drywall, like you were…tunneling? Maybe knockin' down some walls in Terminal City?"
Dax tore his hand away abruptly, causing a light shower of powder to fall down around him, and Cindy knew she was on to something.
"So drywall, for sure then, but it was all over ya, like the whole wall just bust open…"
Zero growled in warning, but he was too late; Cindy could see it clearly now. There'd been an explosion of some kind, large enough to blow apart a wall, small enough to cause only minor injuries. The puzzle pieces quickly fell into place; the argument between Doctor Shankar and Dix, the urgency behind her removal from Terminal City.
"Alec did this, didn't he? Knocked the doctor around, started blowing holes in Terminal City? Soldier boy's preparing to attack. He already has."
"We don't know what he's planning," Zero said, his stubborn, Manticore mask wiped away.
He and Dax both looked worried now, and Cindy took a moment to regret pushing them for answers. Despite all of their training, their practiced fronts of fearlessness, they were still young men, younger than her, Max and Alec. There was no sense in stripping away their defenses, especially in a time of crisis.
"What does he want?" she asked, though she could easily guess the answer.
"Lydecker," Dax replied, "he said that if Lydecker would just surrender, he wouldn't hurt anyone else. That he didn't want to hurt anyone else."
"And he has weapons now? Guns and explosives?"
Zero nodded, and Cindy's stomach dropped. Her hand unconsciously went to the back of her head, then dropped to bracelet her injured wrist.
"Okay, so hotboy's on the warpath, fine. But, there's just one of him, right? There's a whole slew of you, all trained and…you can subdue him or catch him or…"
Zero blanched, a clear indicator of his confidence in their ability to stop Alec's imminent rampage. Dax, however, looked distracted, and started jogging ahead of them without a word.
Cindy whispered in Zero's ear, "What's going on?"
He shrugged in response, but picked up his pace. Dax had stopped jogging, and was standing stock-still, his body blocking whomever he'd seen in their path. He was whispering intently, indecipherable at first, though his words became clearer, the closer they got.
He was saying, "What are you doing here? Are you with him? What's happening?"
Cindy looked at Zero, to see if he could make any sense of things, but his face was expressionless, Manticore mask back firmly in place. She approached Dax at last, and peeked around him to find Dalton staring back at her.
"What's going on, boo? You know Gem was…"
Cindy voiced trailed off, as she took in the rest of the scene. Dalton was armed, his gun pointed at Dax's chest. To the left of him, mounted on the wall, was what looked like a glob of wires and putty.
"You need to stand down, soldier," Zero said, with as much authority as he could muster. "Stand down, and come with us to Command, before more people get hurt."
Dalton shook his head. There was a wildness in his eyes Cindy recognized from the infirmary that morning, when he was yelling at Max.
"Don't think you're in any position to be giving orders, Zero."
He kept his weapon trained on Dax, and turned partially to fuss with the charge on the wall. Once he'd finished his tinkering, he reached into his pocket for a handful of zip-ties.
"Put these on."
Zero and Dax visibly bristled, but did as they were told. Original Cindy froze, dumbfounded, with her hands at her sides, still not quite clear at what was happening. A look of apprehension flew across Dalton's face, so quick Cindy nearly missed it, before he aimed his gun away from Dax, and straight at Cindy's head.
"Put this on," he said again, waving the remaining zip-tie in front of her.
She did. Then, she fell in behind Zero and Dax, as Dalton led them down the hall at gunpoint, in the opposite direction of Command.