So, here is the next chapter, thanks to StealerOfDreams, Ro and lakergirl08 for your review's, please keep them up!! Hope you like this chapter…

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Bigg's looked down at the little girl he held in his arms and his heart broke because he knew there was no way he could get her out safely.

"I have a deal I'm willing to make with 452"One of White's minions voice boomed out from above. Bigg's was surrounded in the warehouse by familiars.

"I'm listening" Biggs yelled, not taking his eyes off the small bundle in his arms. His heart constricted as he thought of Alec, knowing certainly that this was Alec's daughter.

"This child no longer hold's any value to us. We have ascertained that the father in this particular match was not correct. I do, however know the importance to certain people and am willing to make a trade."

Bigg's listened with a sinking heart as the man laid out his plan. He was surrounded by at least 300 familiars and knew that he had no way of escaping without harming the child or killing them both.

With a heavy heart he left the familiars central command without Max and Alec's daughter and rejoined the recon team who awaited him as instructed on the perimeter of the compound.

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Max sighed with please as she stretched like a cat against Alec, finally knowing what she'd been searching for all these years.

Never in her life had Max felt as alive as when she'd been with Alec, all the sensations still making her body tingle.

"I love you" The words came unbidden and murmured against Alec's chest. In response she felt his arms tighten around her and his voice thick with emotion.

"I love you to Max. I want you to know that everything I do is for you. I need you to understand that".

Max looked up at Alec hearing the frantic note in his voice. She saw fear in her eyes and the satisfied feeling she had started to evaporate.

"Alec what is it? You can tell me anything" Alec groaned, knowing that this perfect bubble they were enveloped in would soon come crashing down.

"Max there is something I need to tell you about. It has to do with the mission we went on to check on the sector point breaches".

Max looked into Alec's face and for no known reason felt a sliver of fear. She had known Alec was holding something back, but it that no occurred to her that it could be something so horrible that it could drive them apart.

"Alec, tell me"

"Max, when we reached the checkpoint's there were dead soldiers on the Eastern sides. They had been killed then notes attached to them. Biggs and I worked out the message from the note. It was from the familiars".

Max couldn't breath, she was not consciously aware of climbing out of bed and randomly throwing on her clothes, all that she new was that this had something to do with her daughter and Alec had kept this from her.

"Max, you have to understand, I kept this from you to protect you. I couldn't risk losing you; I knew there was another way. I knew that you wouldn't see that".

"What was the message" Max's voice was cold to her own ears as she stared down at Alec.

"Max, they do have your daughter and they are willing to trade her" Max couldn't comprehend what she was hearing from Alec. What possible reason could he have for keeping this from her.

"Max, they want to trade her for you"

"What? Why Alec, is it about the rune's, what?"

"I don't know Max, that's why Bigg's went with the recon team tonight, to gather more information. I couldn't risk you going off half cocked ready to trade yourself. You'll know if you think about it is exactly what you would have done".

"She's my daughter Alec!" Max screamed, ignoring the pain etched into his face, batting his hands away as he tried to hold her.

"You had no right to keep this from me. Just because we are mated does not mean you can control all of my decisions".

"Max, it's not like that-"

"Don't Alec, just don't. This was a mistake" Max said in despair gesturing to the rumpled sheets of the bed. Before Alec could defend himself again, Max had blurred and was half way across TC.

Standing in the court yard Max felt utterly gutted, not knowing where she wanted to go, only knowing that she could not go back and face Alec.

"Max, the recon team are back, Bigg's is waiting for you and Alec in HQ".

Max turned and stared at the familiar sight of Mole, who shrugged in his non-committal way at the tears that must show on her face. Swallowing hard Max made her way to TC ignoring everyone who tried to talk to her on the way. Her only objective was to gain Intel from Bigg's to assist her mission. To rescue her daughter. The soldier they had bred her to be, who she had always despised was back.

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Zack hesitated at the door to HQ. Being decked by a chick, even a trannie chick bruised the male ego. He still had no idea how to respond to what happened in the bar, he'd been thinking about it for the last hour.

Before he could go in he saw Syl walking quickly towards him, her eyes down cast. She looked surprised when she nearly bumped into him.

"Zack, what are you doing loitering in the dark?" Her note held a teasing tone but Zack could tell that it was forced.

"Syl, have you spoken to Krit" Zack held up his hand to her protests, "I mean really spoken to him. He is so torn up inside that he couldn't protect you; he needs you right now, just like you need him".

Syl turned away speaking quietly.

"No, that's just it Zack, I don't need him. Every time I'm around him all I can think of is our baby and how I couldn't protect it. He's not torn up because he couldn't protect me; he's torn up because I couldn't protect our baby. Because I didn't tell him…"

"Syl, you and Krit have been together for every, I know how much you two love each other. What you're feeling now, it's just grief. You can't let it consume you!"

Zack tried to reach for her but stopped as she turned and he caught the expression in her eyes. It was like seeing another person, not his baby sister who he loved.

"I don't know where you get off giving me advice on my love life, especially since you've done such a bang up job of yours". Syl smiled maliciously as she entered HQ.

Women! Zack fumed, trying to ignore the pain of knowing that after what Syl had been through she may very well never return to her old self. He mad a mental note to follow up with Krit and see how he was holding up.

Zack braced himself and entered HQ, boldly staring down anyone who met his eyes and ignoring the sniggers. He let out the breath he'd been holding and sighed in relief. Lexie wasn't here. So why did he feel so disappointed?

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Ven steadied herself by holding onto the railing, standing in HQ. Luckily Kye, who was standing next to her hadn't noticed. She'd used up nearly all of her energy fighting with him earlier this evening about her being well enough for active duty.

The recon team had radioed in and had advised that they were 10 minutes away. HQ was getting crowded now, everyone edgy, waiting for news, not knowing what lay ahead.

Ven had always been sensitive but lately it was like she could feel what people were feeling, just from looking at them. She hadn't said anything to anyone about it yet, just trying to understand it herself.

Standing in a room this crowded was overwhelming, looking at the impatient, worried, apprehensive, scared and angry faces around her. They would be going to War soon and every Transgenic knew the costs were going to be dear.

Amid all of the negative feelings in the room Ven suddenly felt a buzz, something light invading all the darkness in her mind. It was Kye, he was looking down on her, she caught his dreamy smile and blushed as she realized the source of his feeling, it was desire! For her!

Smiling to herself Ven turned away. So he wasn't completely unaware of her in that sense. That had to mean something right? Her mood continued to improve as Kye moved closer to her until he was right behind her, his chest slightly grazing her back.

"It's getting crowded in here, sorry Ven"

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Bigg's made his way into HQ ahead of the recon team, his heart sinking as he realized it was full. Everyone was waiting for news.

Alec was waiting as well. He motioned Bigg's into his office and closed the door on all the curious and apprehensive faces.

"Give me some good news Biggsy" Alec said wearily, "I had to tell Max – and she's gone. I can't find her. I thought for sure that she'd be here, wanting to know straight away".

Bigg's watched his CO's shoulders slump, whishing he could alleviate his pain, which his news certainly would not do.

"He needs to know this!" Boomed Lydecker's voice from outside and there were sounds of a scuffle. Mole opened the door and ushered Lydecker in the office with his hand around his throat.

"Alec do you want to hear anything this piece of scum has to say?"

"What is it Lydeker!" Alec growled in frustration punching the desk.

"Sandman just made contact with me. The baby the familiars have, it's yours, and it's in danger because the familiars now know it has no value to them."

"It's mine?" Biggs squeezed Alec's shoulder in support.

"That's pretty much what I discovered. They want Max, and they want her bad. They let me hold her Alec, she's beautiful". Alex nodded, trying hard not to let the tears overflow. Bigg's went on, needing to get it out.

"They have offered a trade, the baby for Max, tomorrow night. While I was in with them, the recon team scouted the facility and ascertained details. There are over 300 hundred familiars in the facility and more on the way."

"Alec, I know the reason they need Max" Lydecker said softly, wishing it wasn't him that had to tell Alec. He watched Alec's soldier mode take over, the shutter that went down draining his face of all emotion.

"Ok, tell me"

"When Max last stayed at Manticore there was a familiar undercover who was able to harvest one of her eggs which is how they were able to create your daughter. They already had what they needed from you Alec."

"So, what the hell went wrong with their master plan?"

"They used the wrong male. The child that will carry on the familiar's breeding colt can only be the genetic daughter of Max and…… Zack. That's why they need her, to try again".

Alec breathed deep realizing the next few hours would be needed for him to find out tactics, they knew where his – his daughter was. Now they just needed to figure out how to rescue her without endangering Max.

"Ok. This is how it's going to play. Bigg's I need for you to find Max, bring her to me, I don't care if you have to hog tie her, don't tell her anything yet." Bigg's ran out obeying his superiors command automatically.

"Lydecker, you find Zack, explain to him what's going on and give a general update to everyone out there waiting in HQ. Send me Kye, Dek and the leader of the recon team".

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After Lydecker had give out an update and a general time frame for the mission tomorrow Kye saw her back to his apartment. Lydecker had ordered him to go to Alec but he had insisted on seeing her back first.

"You really didn't have to walk me back Kye. I'm a big girl totally capable and everything" They'd reached the apartment and Kye removed the deadlock he'd used to secure the door and ushered her inside not returning her smile.

"I don't want you to go tomorrow" Ven rolled her eyes and flopped down on the bed, her head was starting to ache and she just did not have it in her to have another go round with Kye.

"Well, we've already had this conversation Kye, I don't know what you're thinking that makes you forget that I'm the same as every other female in this place, fully able to take care of myself".

"That's not it and you know it Ven. Your still weak weather you believe it or not, I can't put my all into this operation if I have to worry about you. It's not fair to Alec". That was it, which was the last straw. Ven felt the anger rising up inside her and was surprised when she started to yell, something that she'd never really had cause to do before.

"How dare you say that to me. I love Alec and that's the reason I'm going, I owe him and I will help him rescue his daughter. Your not my mate Kye, you don't have any say over what I do!". By now she was bellowing and Kye looked like he'd been slapped, he stood stunned for a moment before becoming angry himself.

"Is that what it will take for you to care for yourself and let me look after you! By God then woman that's what you'll get".

He reached her in two strides, crashing down onto the bed and pinning her down with him.

Before she could utter a word he was kissing her. Kye was kissing her! Ven had waited years for this, and even though it was everything she'd ever dreamt it would be, his lips on hers she couldn't do it. Ven shoved him off her and grabbed her coat.

"No, that's not what I want. I want someone that will love me, not just want to control what I do".

She had blurred away before he could respond and did not see the tears that he could not hold back. What had he done?

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Hope you liked this chapter, please review and give me some feed back: )