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Season 3 ep. 17
It seemed like an hour had passed since Dr. Carr had been filled in on Logan's new nightly habits. He was in complete disbelief until we told him we had proof and then I told him about the fabrics I found. He'd been pacing for the last 15 minutes trying to figure out why Logan was doing this.
"Dude your about two minutes away from wearing a hole in that zone your walking over." Alec's sarcastic retort pulled the doc out of his mind fog. "He's right Sam why don't you just have a seat." Alec was getting mildly irritated by the constant movement and Dr. Carr's EXACT motions were getting on my nerves.
"The only explain I can think of is the blood. He's been on it so long as to avoid getting Terminal City's toxins that it's gone to his head-LITERALLY!" he was flabbergasted by the turn of events. "Is there any way to wean him off of it?" I asked. Alec looks to me with an 'are you kidding face? And WHY?'
His head turned so sharply on it I though I heard a crack coming from it. "The last thing we need is for Logan to be able to snoop and do whatever he pleases INSIDE the buildings let alone outside of them. Obviously if the blood supply here is fine he's getting a transgenic or transhuman to give it to him."
See? He shifts his head in understanding before Dr. Carr disagrees, "He couldn't be on transhuman blood, there's too much of a difference between the species." He sees my facial expression and says, "Transgenics have different animals yes but you have more human in you that transhumans do. It's what makes up your physical attributes and some of your behavior make up."
Oh…so no matter what a transgenic is giving him blood. "Well that narrows it down to only a few hundred." I remarked sarcastically. Sam ignored the jib and only really focused on the negative, "Actually if you see Logan again and obviously refuses to give you details if you got a DNA sample I could ID the particular transgenic strain within him." Good idea…one problem though…
"Kinda need to find him for that one. With his own gigs lately I'd have to stake out his place for a day or two just to catch him and I've got piles of work to do here. Plus he might-" seeing Alec's face I amend my words, "He will more than likely see it as a given opportunity." Wait a minute…
"You said he could smell me when I was last in heat." He nodded yes, "Does that mean that since he's got so much transgenic blood coursing through his veins that he's got some of our abilities as well?" even Alec looked slightly worried, not that he really had to, even with a revved up Logan he's no match for Alec.
"It's more than possible especially if he's trying to 'theoretically become one' he could gain your guys' abilities temporarily. My guess is he got the idea when he smelled you but knew it wasn't potent enough to make him want to follow you." Damn it Logan! I wanted to smash something but the pain in my back would return in a heartbeat.
"There's a problem with your DNA test plan." Alec said. "What's that?" Dr. Carr asks him. He stands up and we both looked to him, "We don't have the files from Manticore here and I doubt that everyone would submit to a blood test." He's got a point not everyone would be willing, guilty or not.
"Plus to be quite honest there's a few hundred inside and probably a few dozen outside that are still trying to get in here. The time it would take while he's still doing his thing would be too long and it wouldn't be guaranteed." Damn…he's right. "If that's the case then is there a chance you could fine the records at the old Manticore site?"
I look to Alec and we think on it…is it possible? No…I already knew it, the hard copies burnt up and from what Logan mentioned to me about Deck he has the disks with the back up of Manticore's intel so it could restart someplace else. Plus if what White said was true then the intel is in their hands now.
"No there's not a chance." "Yes there is a chance." Alec and I said at once before looking to each other, stumped by each other's words, "What makes you think there is?" "What makes you think there isn't?" we both ask yet again at the same time. Sam steps up and points to Alec first, "Manticore was security nuts." Okay so?
"They backed up copies into places where they knew enemies wouldn't think to look and had specially trained transgenics to go out there and update the file drives. They were sent out for nearly a week at a time to go out and up date them. Of course the time frame was literally just because of how far away the safe place was."
Are you serious? I was flabbergasted. "You really think they didn't have a back up plan for everything? Their back up plans have back up plans." I felt and utterly foolish and moronic now for thinking I took them down…for thinking we could have ever have taken them down.
I was foolish to not have thought of any of this. My face visibly fell at the notion and Alec decided to continue on so we wouldn't dwell on past events that were unavoidable and unchangeable. Didn't make things a lot better but at least the issue was temporarily avoided…but still...
"I didn't think…" I didn't… "Anyways there were several locations where these storage spaces were at. Some were a week's ride from the site some were no more than 15 miles from the place." Wait… "How do you know all of this?" I ask completely stunned at this news update.
"I was one of those transgenics. I delivered to three different locations after my long term mission; they wanted to test me with it. Truthfully though I think they were looking for a reason to get rid of me. Hell the only other people that went through as much Psy Ops as I did were the twins and clones of your group."
This is too much for me…I'm more than stunned by this. This was one instance where I was grateful to be sitting down. Carr however sees the positive in this, "So you can go and get the DNA records?" he nodded, "I just have to remember which locations they were at. We weren't told what exactly was on the disks only the basic intel and that it was top secret." That posed a problem though.
"Wait a minute then those disks could contain anything from mission intel to the DNA info we need. There's not a guaranteed chance its even there." He sighed though mostly it seemed at my lack of faith than anything, "Yes actually it is. The transgenics weren't given detailed intel but we were told a summary."
Oh…sorry…I leaned my head in apology, "No worries though I can go to the places and retrieve the disks." But… "Would it still be there?" I asked. "Might as well find out." he gets up to leave and I start to follow…instant back pain. I wince in pain as Carr sits me back down.
"You're staying here in fact…" Alec left briefly for an unknown reason to me while Carr told me to lie on my side for a while. "You need to lie down for a few hours let yourself heal up. You'll probably be fine in a day or two." A day or two? "Sam I can't afford that I have work to do." Alec came back in with Daniel.
"Keep her down and in bed." Daniel's head quirked up and a knowing look crossed his face as Alec smacked him in the back of his head before pointing at him. "You know what I mean." Alec's 'don't even think about it' was evident. Daniel held his hands up in defense as he looked around the room for a chair to be comfy in.
Looking to me Alec said, "At least I'll know your going to stay down. Cece's as strong as you not stronger. Daniel here is a guarantee that you're not going to be able to get up while I'm gone." Damn him for knowing me so well…sometimes I wish he wasn't so level headed with me. Sometimes…
Walking up he kissed me goodbye for a good ten seconds before whispering, "Stay down or face the consequences when I get back. If I have to I'll-" I already know but at least now if he's going to do this I can throw him for one, "Tie me up to the bed…I know." There's no smile but its clear as day in my eyes.
"The imagery you give me…" he groans a little in my ear and my internal purr reaches his own inner cat. Hell that type of imagery is enough to temp even a nun into attendance here…of course they'd have to get past me, woman of faith or not he was mine and for as long as I lived that's how it was gonna stay.
Funny how nearly a year ago, a couple of months short of a year ago, I would have balked at that thought…boy do things change, "…love you…" a quick kiss and he's off…and I'm stuck with an ever irritating Daniel. "Sooo…wanna play cards?" he asks. I shot him an irritating glance as I bark out, "Bite me."
He looks off at that before smirking out, "Nah to easy. Sides Cece would kill me." so they were together. "Glad you two are an item now." I remark. He smiles and leans back, "Not yet but we will be. When her next heat comes I'll be ready, willing and waiting." I casually ask, "Why wait? Why not mate now?"
His stance shifts only slightly before he says, "Cause unlike you I believe that TRUE mating is during the more intense moments out there. When she goes into heat it'll be perfect." What an idiot… "So no matter what for you it has to be during a heat?" I ask. He shrugs and says, "No doubt."
I can't help it, "Not every intense moment is heat related. It's not the heat that makes the difference it's who you're with that does." My words seem to be hitting home…seem to be, "The right person yes I'll agree with you there but that's also where it ends." Ooiii can't these men figure it out?
"I'll always believe that MATING…true mating is done through heat. It's the way animals have been doing it all through time." See there's that bit again. "It's the way of the world Max." his statement sounds so casual I know he firmly believes in that so I can only really deliver my perspective.
"But we're only part animals, we're still first and foremost human!" I do tend to get defensive on the subject here. "No Max first and foremost for ANYBODY out there, transgenic or human we're animals first. Our first thoughts of the day go right into second nature. It's what we make it to be." Again…
"I disagree. Yes we're all animals in some form BUT we can control our baser instincts to do a LOT. It's called self control and the levels people hold within them." I pride myself on my self control during some of those more un controllable moments. Its why I always felt like shit after I've lost control.
That feeling it's…insurmountable…shitty as hell. Makes you want to curl up for a few days and simple cry out in embarrassment and in agony over that time frame lost and knowing that once again you lost a piece of yourself, your pride, your self respect and even a piece of your will to your raging hormones.
At least when you're in control you WANT to be with them.
Heat…you loose that control. "Max did you ever think that maybe you were over thinking the heat part?" I shot a nasty glare to him for that. "You have no idea what-" he shushed me, "No I have no idea what you go through but do you have any idea how effects us?" I mumbled out my answer.
"Alec explained that you guys feel it to." He scoots the seat closer to the bed. "Feel it too yeah…and we're powerless to stop ourselves. The rush is unlike anything we have ever felt. It, it's primitive and ensnaring, I love it." Has he been mated before? "Have you been mated before?" I ask.
His head dips down a little, "Once…she died in the fire at Manticore. I know what its like to mate in heat. It's the best feeling I've ever felt. And I want Cece to know that feeling as well." that fire wasn't that long ago…was it? "Don't get me wrong I'll always love her but Cece…she's got a spunk that I want to make my own."
He sounds so sincere about her… "You love her." I stated bluntly. He nods his head, "I thought that was obvious?" so now a question remains here… "So if another female goes into heat around you, you won't react?" I've been curious about that for a bit now. "Well…" he says.
"That depends on how you look at it. If you're not mated and only seeing someone then you will get attracted to that person. But only if you're not mated. See you and Alec mated in your own way so guys and girls steer clear a bit, but nothing will prevent if say either you or Alec were to leave the other during that time."
Great… "So if I went into heat and Alec was out on an errand or something any non mated guys would still try to hit it with me since were not 'technically' mated?" he nodded his head yes. I leaned back in bed wincing in pain, "Just great. My next heat isn't for a few months…I think." Time had been going by so fast around here…
"Just do what you used to do and you'll be safe. I'd also recommend if Alec isn't here to get a whole bunch of scented crap so it'll mask your own scent. Or else you'll be having around several un-mated males trying to break into your place." I sighed in agony at the thought of it all.
Falling back onto the bed I saw him shift in his seat and look at me funny, "What?" I gripped out. Casually he remarked, "I'm trying to figure you out." I was curious… "Mind being a little more specific?" I asked slight irritation in my voice. "Alec's so in 'love' with you, yet you're one of the niners that made his life hell after the escape." Not this again…I thought we did this already?
"I know…" he didn't seem stunned but my next words had him thinking, "The escape wasn't my idea…we got it in our heads from our CO, Zack. After we'd lost a unit member he decided we should get out. So we did." He covered up his emotions with his next words.
"So you couldn't take the heat of loosing someone so you decided to bail out and leave the rest of us. Nice move. Your CO was a great guy." HEY! That's my brother! "Zack was a great guy and did what he had to, to protect us all. It's what a CO does!" his flippant words had me out raged.
Taking a page from Bruno's book I said, "You wanna make your cracks against me fine go ahead, but don't you say nothing about my family! They were all that I had as a kid and all that kept me going for those past ten years!" now I had more of an understanding from Bruno's perspective on what people would say about loved ones.
I had been a little bit out of line talking about his daughter…even though I had thought he made her up to use the phone to call out. "Whatever." He remarked, clearly trying to not accept what I said. "So did Alec take anyone with him where he was going?" I asked. He can handle himself but if he blows his cover…
All hell could break loose. Thankfully if that's the case we still have the JP siege uniforms to use. "Nope went by himself. No worries 'Maxie' he's a big boy he can take care of himself." I know that…I just worry is all. "Don't call me Maxie. Only Alec, OC, Scetchy, and my unit members can call me that." I huffed out.
He asked, "Why not?" my answer, "Cause I said so, now drop it before I put you in a world of pain." It probably would have been more effective if I hadn't moved. The pain from my backside came and hit a nerve causing me to flinch…hard. Biting off my cry of pain Daniel walks towards me.
"You idiot. You move like that its going to pinch your nerves." KINDA NOTICED THAT! "Shut up!" I grouch out pain subsiding a bit. "Here." He remarks and angles his hand behind me on my back. Before I can smack him for touching me I feel the pain of the nerve ending relieved.
Surprised my question is actually more written on my face than asked out loud so he responds, "I did a mission one time where I was a massage therapist. Learned how to be one so I could get inside the place and be 'authentic'. My former mate LOVED to get massages from me." that struck me.
"Does Cece know you had a mate before her?" I ask feeling better that the pain is being coaxed away. He's got a talent I'll give him that. "Nope that stays between you, Alec and me." what? "Why don't you want her to know?" his starts to rub his hand in a different motion causing pain.
"Need to massage the pain out." he answers my angered look. "I'm not going to tell her because I don't want her to think she's a replacement. She's the one I want to be with for life." Guess Daniel can be sweet…when he wants to be. "I don't think she'll think of it that way." I respond.
"Think about it, telling her that is. It's not my business to say nor is it Alec's but I will advise you to tell her." He nods his head in I'll think about it mode. I move my back just slightly to move the muscle and find it easier than before. "Wow you keep this up and I'll be out of here in less than a day." I state happily.
I felt it to be true to…I heard Daniel mumble something but even to my sensitive hearing I can't make his words out. "What?" I ask him. "Nothing. You should rest for now. Give your back a chance to heal on its own." I begrudgingly agree before lying back down in the bed.
He sits in his spot till I hear the door opening up to reveal Alec and Carr coming in together. "You back already?" I asked. He has the disks in hand, "Of course. Here." He hands the disks to the doc. "Think you can find out who using our computer here? It's faster than yours at the office." How would Alec know?
"Sure I can have the comparison done from these disks in an hour. How's your back holding up?" Carr responds to Alec then asks me, "Actually it feels better. Turns out Daniel here is pretty good with his hands." I really did mean for it to sound begrudgingly but I had to admit he helped me out with the pain.
However Alec's look of anger and jealously though carefully hidden in his features is plainly written in his eyes. I hadn't meant for it to come out sounding like a double meaning, "He massaged the back muscles from the shot…NOTHING MORE." I made sure that was clear.
Though Daniel being his idiotic trouble making self at the moment made me serious wonder if he had a death wish with Alec, "Yeah man…no big. Though you were right on one thing though, her skin is smooth and feels lik-" SLAM! Carr was shocked when he turned around to see what was going on.
Alec had blurred across the room too fast for Carr to see as his fist slammed into Daniel's face. Daniel probably wasn't expecting the hit since he barely brought up his own hands in defense. "DUDE! JOKE! JOKE! Take it easy!" moron! What were you thinking provoking a mated male?
"Don't you EVER touch MY MATE like that again! NO one touches her like that but ME! You understand that?" despite being taller than Alec by a few inches, due to his having been sitting down, Alec was able to haul him awkwardly onto his feet which were at such a weird angle Alec was at the same height as him.
"ALEC!" I yelped out. His face jerked back to me and the anger only slightly faded. "It wasn't even like that! He was relieving the pain in my backside. THAT'S ALL!" He seemed still angered… "You know him and his mouth he loves to agitate people, he agitates me ALL the time." It was true!
Dropping Daniel he walks toward me and sits in between me and Daniel preventing any view. Seriously Alec? Acting like a little boy over a toy…and he still has that grumpy look on his face…I do however know a few tricks to make him feel better. Gesturing him over to me more I begin to draw gentle circles on his back.
After a minute and a half of that and 30 seconds of light caresses his mood is nearly normal again…still looking at Daniel threateningly but mostly cause Daniel was idiot enough to provoke him. We sat there for over an hour while the computer ran its trace for the DNA Logan had been using.
I started to see some resonating factors between Alec and Daniel during that time…like within 15 minutes the two guys seemed to be fine with each other again. I briefly wondered how long that was going to last. Ten minutes into that they were both trying to 'antic wise' annoy one another.
From fidgeting legs to tapping insults in Morris code to each other. Did they think I didn't know Morris code? After I tapped out 'enough!' in Morris code myself they both seemed surprised…till Alec did the mathematics of when we were taught and let go of the confused face.
A big beep sounded off on the computer Carr was using. Alec nearly blurred to it. "Well?" he asked. "DNA belongs to an X5-445, here's her profile, ring a bell?" he answered. "A female?' I was stunned. A guy I could see but why another female? "Damn it!" Alec retorted before slamming his fist into the desk.
Carr was hard pressed to keep the computer from crashing to the ground. "What's wrong?" I asked Alec as he seemed to be wanting to destroy everything. "I told her to give it some time, this is my fault!" he raised his voice in anger, "How is it your fault?" Daniel asked trying to calm him down.
"445-Dana as she called herself, I ran into her when I had that to bit piece of junk in my head." He looked to me, "You saw her when you had the bomb in your head?" I was stunned. He nearly killed me that day…but she obviously got away. What the fuck? He didn't kill you though…remember?
"I'm trying to figure out why she's still alive. You told me you weren't given a choice but to bring back those-" Daniel swung his hands out cutting me off, "WHOA! Wait a sec. Bomb? What the hell dude?" he asked Alec. "Long story short I pissed off a bad guy and tried to wheel and deal him…didn't work out, Max saved my ass."
Daniel looks to me with a hint of respect before he asks, "Mind telling me what that has to do with this?" that's what I'd like to know! "I ran into her that day. I almost had her but she caught me before I could make my move. We made a deal, I help her and her unit get to Canada, she takes a kid to the hospital for me."
Why did I feel like there was more to that story… "What happened?" I asked angered by this. "She took the kid to the hospital as I asked but I couldn't deliver her stuff right away. Told her I had a contact that could get her fake I.D.'s, I was planning on going to Logan's to get them which was how I ran into you."
He was there to see Logan to help her, NOT to see me. "I ran into luck running into you there Maxie. Anyways long story short I wasn't able to get the I.D.'s for her, didn't have the cash to give to Logan and I couldn't go back into the ring to get it cause White had already nailed me once there." That I had to agree on.
"So you left her sitting?" I asked my anger turning into something else. "NO! I didn't I gave her and her unit a place to hide out so they could be safe. I always made sure to get a run out there to give them food and supplies. It was just temporary till I could get the money for them." he did say he never made a promise he couldn't keep.
"By the time I came up with the funds for them the Jam Pony thing happened and I got stuck here." Watch your words there bud! I narrow my eyes at him for his words. "You know what I mean. She helped me I was helping her, and now obviously she's getting her help from your ex." Now the tables have turned.
Instead of denying the 'not-like-that-bit' I skip it in favor of, "So where is the safe place you put her and her unit at?" looking to me he replies, "5th and Narragansett. Broken down place in sector five, lots of drug dealers in the area. The apartment itself was barely big enough and the people around them weren't a problem."
That is true dealers tended to stick to themselves. The only people they seemed to care about or warn of impending harm were their customers. Otherwise it was every man for themselves. "I'll go and see her. Ask her why, then ask her where he is." Before Alec leaves I call him back.
"Isn't the first question obvious Alec?" I asked him, the look in his face seems angered but he needs to know so he doesn't ask a redundant question in the long run. "Logan's giving her what you promised her, freedom." It was hurtful to say but I felt hurt that he was nearly will to risk my life at that moment and not hers.
I felt…what's that word…oh yeah a bit jealous by that action. His face turned to me in pain, "Just cause your jealous doesn't mean you get to inflict pain onto others. I knew her back at Manticore, she was a good girl, a good soldier."
He left out the door as Daniel was about to say something, "Don't bother." I retort just as he opens his mouth. Hands up in defense I'm stuck still lying here in the bed while Alec once again goes off without me. I hated this! I'm not used to being inactive! Seeing Daniel talking to Sam I decided to try and sneak out.
Feeling much better I eased off the bed and blurred to the door…only to be blocked by Daniel blurring into my pathway. "Move." I commanded. He stood steadfast and asked, "And risk having Alec slam his fist though me, I think not. I'm good and all but your mates an alpha for a reason." Pointing towards the bed I backed up.
Sitting on it I refused to get back in, for prides sake. He looked off for a few seconds as if I was acting like a child. Maybe I was but this was ridiculous. I'd been shot before, twice in fact. Right and in either case you were tied down to a bed most of the time too…it was as if my inner voice was not on my side today.
"Look I've had worse." I reasoned out. "Yeah and I'm sure you were a pain in the ass and the doc's were looking out after you too." Well… "Not exactly." I responded. He looked up to me, "The first time was when I was recaptured by Manticore, I was restrained for most of it." Before he can make a smart remark I continue.
"Plus about a year ago I was shot in the stomach and taken to Harbor Lights." Now I had his attention, "That was you?" he seemed shocked though in confusion or anger I wasn't sure. "Yeah…why?" I asked. Acting like it was obvious he remarked, "How stupid were you to go to a regular hospital?"
HEY! "I wasn't aware I passed out in between delivery. When I woke up they had me in one of the rooms at the place. I gave the nurse a nasty bruise before they sedated me. I tried but the wound had weakened me, so did the drug." It had been painful as hell, but hey I did what I could have.
"Where was Alec in all that? Wasn't he at least your friend at the time?" yeah he was…sorta… "He didn't talk to me much when I told him what went down. Seemed a bit upset and left. Didn't understand at the time why." Maybe now that I think about it… "Gee you think? Finds out that the person he's loved since meeting them just got shot and wasn't told till after the fact!"
Ranting on I realized his words, "Loved since meeting me?" I asked. I don't ever recall Alec telling me that! "Opps…" his face is that of his words to the T. "Don't tell him I told you! But even so back to the subject. Why didn't you try to at least contact him?" because I thought I could handle it on my own.
I told him that to, his response, "I see you did that really well. You got shot and who knows what else. You could have ended up an experiment! You and your 'make it up as you go along' nearly got you killed!" why is he acting like this? "Since when do you care?" I balked out.
Turning his head away he mumbles something out once again even with my hearing can't understand, "What are you mumbling?" I grouch out. Turning sharply towards me he says, "Doesn't matter…but now I have a new question. You obviously had help getting out." I agreed.
"Who helped you?" "Logan." I instantly said, and it was like he already knew for his next motion of 'knew it!' was obvious. "Why?" he turns to me, "And he didn't tell Alec? Have Alec come and back you up, help out?" I shook my head no. Now that stirs up things…why didn't he ask Alec for help?
"That flaming douche bag! He's so bent on making himself look good it nearly cost you your life!" HEY! "I can take care of myself!" looking pointed at me, "Really?" I was slightly a taken a back there, not that he needed to know. "Really." I sounded more confident than I felt.
Crossing his arms over his chest he asked, "So let me figure this out here what exactly did Logan do to help?" I look at him like 'Seriously?' he dead pans, "Humor me." I do and give him the details. Everything from the heart monitor to White-wait he didn't know White was coming in.
Well he told me to go to the roof where he did have a ride waiting for me…yeah after White handed you your ass and nearly killed you…again. "Tell me this then Max, obviously Alec can smile his way into nearly everything, why not call him up, ask him for help and have you out in an hour." Ahh…
"Well…" he stops me then continues, "Or rather yet what if he and his helicopter friend had been late, even by a few seconds. His plan to get you out would have killed you. The only right thing he did that night was alert you to White's breeding cult bitch. Otherwise he messed up and you…" he left the rest unsaid.
He was right…Alec should have been called in that night. That fight with White took an extra week to heal. Its how Alec found out, I had to pass off a couple of packages to him for a few of the rougher sectors. When he asked why Cindy literally said 'Boy my boo's got a nasty new hole to tend to. Now be nice and do as yo told.'
Initially the stunned look on his face was assumed to be for the packages but when he came back to ask me that night what happened I only gave him a short version. Which now I guess I'm thankful I did. Now if he knew the full details he might go after Logan just for that alone.
Hell it isn't a might he would. He wasn't too happy but left before I could fully comprehend what was going on, what he truly meant by his words of 'should have called me, bastard'. I ignored them in favor of thinking it wasn't a big deal…oh how wrong I was, "That's the past and I'll deal with Logan's idiocy LATER!"
I was going to there was no doubt there…however, "That doesn't change the factor that I'VE had worse! So can you at least let me get some damned work done in my office?" I mean seriously…he seems to think on it before letting it go. "The office is as far as I'm letting you go." He walked me there and made sure I stayed sitting in my office till Alec came back.
I was so grateful to have him back; dealing with Daniel's antics around the office was tiresome at best. Only Alec didn't come back alone. Apparently he brought back an X5 male. Sitting him down in the chair opposite my own in the office he closed the door with Daniel on the inside.
Confused to this turn of events I asked, "What's going on?" I stayed in place due to my needing to get actual work done and because my back still stung a little. "Interrogating." He replied looking back at me, when he faced the X5 again his questioning began, "Where's your CO?" I assume he meant the girl.
The X5 turned his face before he spoke, "It doesn't matter, she's probably half way to Canada by now." looking upwards he finished off, "Bitch left us…left us all. She took the funds for all of our passports that we'd all earned and left last night." Logan was giving them all money?
"Logan was giving you all passports?" I asked. Obviously ignoring the fact that I knew his passport buddy he replied, "We were doing work for him. Odd end jobs. He called them Eyes O-" I finished his words, "Only missions…" Alec at that point was now pissed, "How much Deniro did she split with?"
He asked. "$3,000 man, its all we had saved up. WE ALL earned that." She bailed and left them rotting here. "You're welcome to stay here. You and your unit." I offered. He looked to me like it was wonderful before his face fell. "My unit split after she left. Felt if she was allowed to 'bail' out as you put it then why not us?"
Bitch…great so we can't nail Logan's blood donor and apparently he still found a way to use X5's for his missions. "Do you know where Logan is right now? We have a few words to have with him." Well more than that but anyways…he looked to us like we weren't even on the same page.
"Cale's been goin off the deep end for a while man. Had me doing some stupid missions." While his missions weren't the greatest they were usually for a good cause its why I agreed to do so many of them. Before I can retort Alec beats me to the punch, "What he have you save a lost puppy or something?" cute…
The X5 looked confused now, "What? No man, he had me breaking into some norm's place for some girl's junk. Said it was in the opposing room from the African American roommate. Said she wouldn't even know I was there. Those kind of missions." That's not a mission…wait… "What did he ask you to get specifically?"
He rattled off, "I dun-wait. I grabbed pieces of laundry, under things I believe…" his fumbling hands I guessed what was the 'under things', "a hair brush that was left on the floor-dude I don't know the girl was obviously gone from there. Everything else was gone." My heart speed up.
He didn't… "Did the windows have long crappy tan curtains?" he looked befuddled, "And a small red carpet with an orange lining?" he looked really confused, "How do you know and WHO are you?" he asked. Looking to Alec I could tell he knew I knew but didn't know himself.
He hadn't been in my room, only OC ever had…scratch that…Eric too…drunk and passed out as he was. But we won't go down that memory road. "That was my old place with OC. Logan had you get my old laundry?" I was mortified and UUUGGG! Gross! "Why the HELL-?" I shouted standing up forgetting back pain.
I was now caught in an upward jerking motion. Blurring to me Alec put pressure in the right spot to help me sit back down. "What's wrong with you?" the X5 asked. "It's called taking one for the team." I retorted bluntly. "DO you know what he did with my 'stuff'?" please let it not be something gross…even though it probably is.
"Don't know. He only took the stuff and left after giving us the cash. He seemed to be a little on edge to. I think the blood Dana was giving him was messing with his head." If another transgenic could notice something, "How was he acting?" I inquired. Thinking on it he replied, "Depressed, especially after he left from here in TC."
He knew about TC? "He told you he came from here?" Daniel barked out for the first time since this all started. "I kinda figured it out after a month or so. His habits became repetitive. Whenever he came back he was angered but seemed really engrossed in some pictures he took there." Wait did he see…?
"Did you see the pictures?" Alec asked him. "I wasn't interested in some sex marathon he was lookin at. If I want action I'll go out and get some. Cale maybe able to 'get it up' but it isn't like that blonde friend 'Asia' I think is wantin' it anymore." 'Asia'…? Does he mean, "Do you mean Asha?" I asked.
So he's been around Asha as well… "Yeah. She was around for a while, helping out. But when he seemed to become really engrossed in those photos and even more engrossed in the blood Dana was giving him she bailed and left. Said he wasn't the 'man' she used to know anymore." So Asha couldn't take it anymore.
"How much blood was he taking a day?" Alec's question prompted me to think on that as well…seeing the X5 take a few minutes he finally replied, "About a pint a day almost." WHAT? How has Logan not gone mental from all this? And I mean actual 'try to stab you in the shower' mental!
Seeing the look on my face he says, "Sorry I wish I had better news but the fact remain, he's gone off the deep end. I have a question now." we all look to him. "What were those pictures of? The angle was always off and all I got were two bodies doing the dirty a lot…and I mean A LOT!" I had the decency to blush briefly.
Alec rounded me and the desk as he said, "None of your damn business. Now if you want to stay safely behind here then you go to Mole, he's the big scaly one with a rifle glued to his hand, tell him Alec sent you to go to work and find a place with room mates. If you don't want that I'll have Mole lead you out to beyond the gates."
The X5 nods his head and says, "Mole, big, scaly, rifle, job, roommate, got it, thanks." He's up and out of my office fast. "I'd suggest for him to bunk with Dalton since he's been helping Gem out so much with the baby. He could be someone Dalton could talk to at night time." I stated.
Alec agreed before making the call to Mole about the X5. "So now what?" Daniel asks me. Honestly I didn't know. Only thing I could think of was confronting Logan about his late night visits and his 'trannie blood' problem. The mayor was as safe as far as we knew and the only arrivals we've had were-
Krit and Syl! I can't believe I forgot to see them today. Well I have been tremendously busy. "Daniel why don't you do my a favor and check in on the X5's sent out to guard the mayor from afar, Alec you and I have a 'other' business to attend to." I knew that Daniel would see it as less than import for me to go talk with them but…
Their my family…my old family but my family none the less…I protested but Alec helped me up and 'guided' me to my sib's new 'crib'. When we got there the door was open and I saw the same basic layout Alec and I had had when we moved into our apartment here.
The small bags, the duffle bags. Stepping over a few bags that were in the way I called out, "Anyone home?" Krit poked his head out from the only other room besides the bath and living room in the place. "Oh hey Maxie…Alec." His reference to Alec as an afterthought didn't get past me.
Alec remained silent but his eyes spoke for him. After telling him 'I'll handle it' with my own eyes I walked forward, "Came by here to see how well you two were adjusting. TC's really good with…" my words died on my lips as I walked into the room. I saw guns and a few knives all over the bed.
"What's with the arsenal?" I asked Krit. He was polishing a Glock as I asked, "Decided to get serious about things after we left Deck." So they were working with him? "Since when do you willingly work with the devil?" I couldn't help it. We only worked with him that ONE time because we were taking down Manticore.
Looking up to me he remarked, "Its better to be on the right hand side of than to be in his path." Cutie… "But in this case the devil is killable not to mention were no longer on the 'fraddy cat list'." I sarcastically quoted. Wait a minute did I really just say something seriously that lame?
"Maxie I hate to break it to you but Syl and I have been talking with Deck for the past year and a half now." I was stunned. "What? Why? Wait how? Deck went missing over six, seven months ago. Maybe longer." What did my brother here know? "Have you been in Seattle all this time?" I found Alec asking the question now.
Krit looked to him but didn't bother answering his questions, only mine, "We started to do it cause we believed that Deck was a changed man. We believed that he was a good guy, we were wrong. He'd gotten a hold of some disks and had made a lot of calls. If I hadn't over heard one Syl and me probably wouldn't be here."
Alec came to stand next to me as he himself watched the polishing action. Krit looked up but held a look about him that I'd only ever seen Logan wear…it was of disapproval and it was aimed at Alec. Much like Logan's always was. The men seemed to be having a silent debate going on in between them.
After three minutes of silence I got too irritated with the communication not being understandable. Must be a guy thing. "What do you mean by if you hadn't over heard, what was he talking about?" I asked crossing my arms. "Deck was planning on rebuilding Manticore and going to stage three, whatever that was."
Syl's arrival had us both looking back to see her in the doorway. She walked past us but looked at Alec. Before thoughts of 'he's mine' could filter through my head I saw the same look in her eyes as well. I'd had enough, "What the hell is the problem here?" I asked bluntly.
Syl answered…bluntly, "Problem is him. Why is he here? And why are you shacked up with him? He's our brother's clone." Her voice held disapproval but her eyes held curiosity. She made it sound as if that wasn't reason enough, like there was more reason than he's a clone.
Before I could defend Alec he spoke up, "They don't think I'm good enough for you Maxie." His use of 'Maxie' got Krit's eyes to snap at attention.
"Only her family gets to call her 'Maxie' and you're not family. You're a clone of our MIA brother." Before Alec could respond I defended before stating, "He's my family as much as your or Syl are! And for the record Ben's dead, not MIA." It hurt to say it since I was the one to do it but they deserved to know.
Syl's shock gasp and Krit's fallen eyes told me they were stunned. Frankly I was stunned a bit myself. I hadn't been intending on dropping that bomb till later on, "How? When?" Syl asked. She and Ben were chosen to do a lot of group activities together so in retrospect they were pretty tight…though apparently not as tight as she is with Krit. Looking at them both I got a vague notion.
Their movements around each other and body language told me that clearly hypocrisy was among us. "So I can't be mated to Alec because he's our 'brother by friend and not by blood' clone but you two can shack up? We're family but were not actually related. Or do you not remember that?" I spat out.
Normally I'm not one to yell at my old sibs but I guess the feline within that Alec was helping me slowly let out was defending her mate. They seemed shocked by this and I saw the confusion swimming in their depths, "What makes you think we're shacked up?" Krit asks putting away the Glock. "Your movements, body language. Its how me and Alec were when we first…"
Wait could it be that they don't know? "Wait…you don't even know it do you?" I asked them. Looking to each other they looked shocked before seeming to contemplate it before shaking their heads as if to literally remove the mental thoughts. "Don't know what you're talking about."
Syl's non-chalet attitude told me they didn't even know. I was stunned, to see how me and Alec were now through another perspective. Seems that even if Alec and I were in the same unit we still would have ended up together." I smiled at the thought. "The fact still remains though." Alec spoke up.
Krit's voice however interfered, "We don't know you so were not talking to you. Maxie when he leaves then we'll talk." Alec's eyes sharpened, "Dude this isn't some freaking game if you have intel that we need spill it now." Krit stood up and for once I saw the look in his eyes.
He was angered that he was seeing Alec and NOT Ben. Poor Alec, it's going to take them a minute to see that Alec and Ben are far from each other in so many ways. "I'm not saying anything to you. Your not apart of our family!" Krit grilled out. Standing no more than three feet apart the room became tense.
I could tell Alec was debating on getting into it with Krit, knowing he was like a brother to me, knowing how I felt about my family…but also knowing that Krit was being irrational with what the subject matters were. He was torn between yelling at him and leaving so I wouldn't yell at him.
Thing is I agreed with Alec, "He's right!" both men looked to me then at each other back and forth for a few moments trying to figure out 'who' the 'he' was. "Alec's right we don't have time for games if you have important intel we need to know. And for the last time Alec's my family as much as you guys are…"
However the words that popped out next surprised everyone in the room…myself included, "Probably more so since we're getting read to start a family together." My eyes widened as I realized what I'd just said out loud. Syl was stunned and Krit looked ready to yell, scratch that he was going to yell.
"Are you…what….I…" he was yelling but seemed as if he couldn't find the right words to yell with. Had I been watching this as a sitcom I would have laughed out loud as it was I wanted to explain in depth, "We'll talk about that later right now lets focus on Deck and then we'll talk more about that some other time."
Preferably after Alec and I have more words over the subject…alone!
Coming out of his stupor Alec says, "She's right we need to focus on the tactically more important things first." The tone of his voice despite his words told me that us starting a family was something VERY important to him. "I don't like it but your right." Syl came around but Krit was acting like he was on the war path.
"Are you kidding me? He's nothing more than a clone of our brother!" okay now I'm getting severely angry here, "Just because Ben's gone doesn't mean you have to take it out on Alec! He didn't kill Ben I did!" my hand covered my mouth in an instant. FUCK ME! I couldn't believe I just told them that…I never even told Logan that.
Only Alec knew… "You what?" Syl's voice went meek…I'm sorry… "It's a long story but he was hurt and Manticore was closing in, he asked, I did." The tears spilled out exactly after Syl slapped me across the face. Killing a member of the unit was like killing your CO…UNACCEPTABLE.
Unless they were in EXTREME circumstances. Mine were…I didn't see the other blow she had coming to me, hell I hadn't seen the first one…but Alec thankfully saw the second one. I have a feeling the first one caught him of guard to. Its not usual that someone your mate trusts ends up getting hit in the face by her sister.
Catching her hand before it can make an impact he warned in a very dangerous tones, "Old unit or not you hurt my mate again in any way physically or emotionally and you'll regret it."
I felt fear for them by his words…he was serious. Yanking her hand away she gripped out, "She killed our brother!" Syl's yell hit me hard…harder than her hit did. "He was-" I gripped Alec's arm to prevent him from telling. Syl and Krit we're both pretty close to Ben, spending time with him.
Ben was the second youngest…to me that is. He was a good kid…a good tracker…but if they knew what he'd become…what he'd done…it'd hurt to know that someone they valued as a kid brother turned out to be a cold blooded killer…I couldn't let them know, it would hurt to much.
Telling him not to bother and I'll explain later we left with the parting words of, "When your ready to talk about what you know with regards to Deck we'll be in my office." Once out of ear shot of their room he asked, "Why didn't you tell them?" looking up to him I held the quiver out of my voice.
"They were very close to Ben, if they found out that someone they saw as a kid brother was a stone cold serial murderer thanks to being set free from Manticore, it'd…its to painful for them to handle right now." he didn't seem to like it, "I'm not a fan of keep secrets like that…" he would tell would he?
"But it's your decision to make and I'm with you every step of the way." I felt relieved, "When the time is better I'll tell them the truth. But first why don't we get over a few hurdles first?" he smiles before slinging his arm protectively around me, "She hits you again sister or not I'm sluggin' her." He states.
I smile, "Sister or not if she even tries again I'll slug her first. She caught me off guard back there, not again." plus I really did feel like I deserved it. He tightens his hold as we walk towards HQ.