- Chapter 25 -

Previously:

494 shot up in bed, body shaking and drenched in cold sweat. A nightmare. It was a fucking nightmare. He had been so close to escaping when it all started crashing down on him. But then he'd heard the voice. One he recognized but couldn't identify. Soft words compelling him to be strong, not to give up. A voice so familiar, so soothing. Someone he trusted, who'd guided him safely across the void. But who?

The Small Matter of Trust

2020, 30 miles north of Seattle , Washington - Manticore Facility

It had been two weeks since Alec booted her into her cell, leaving her frustrated and angry. She'd done her best to avoid him when possible, which hadn't been easy. He spent every spare moment training her, pushing her, testing her endurance, limitations and temper. But she kept her emotions in check, refusing to rise to his taunts and baiting, and eventually he stopped speaking to her unless absolutely necessary - which suited her just fine.

Who am I kidding? she thought bitterly. Alec was the only one she'd been able to talk to at all, the only one receptive enough to her advances. Until I bitched at him and he retreated. Damn Manticore superiority. The minute he'd been reinstated as Commanding Officer of his unit, he'd turned on her like the rest of them. It was my fault though, she conceded, wishing for a moment that she could retract her words and actions. But then she remembered the glares and comments tossed about between her new unit members and the ease with which Alec had fallen in with them.

He's Manticore. What did you expect? she mused sullenly. It hurt. She'd seen him with his guard down, they'd shared vulnerable moments and she'd gotten a glimpse of human kindness that lay beneath the toughened exterior. You expected him to show you the very thing you yourself try so hard to hide.

Max rubbed her eyes and rose to her feet, smoothing down her rumpled clothing. The last thing she needed was to be punished for displaying a less than perfect outward appearance. She'd long since learned not to sleep at night. When she let her guard down her unit took advantage of it. The night they'd found out about the new training schedule someone had snuck into her cell and ruined her fatigues; they'd scuffed her boots and redesigned her military issue t-shirts - cutting them off at the midriff - and frayed her combat trousers at the knees. There had been no time to put in a request for new clothing and as a result she'd been made to miss breakfast, sit through a lecture on the importance of not ruining Manticore property and given latrine duty - normally a four-man job - alone. Max had come to the conclusion that if she wanted any sleep, it would have to be during leisure time and in a secluded place away from prying eyes.

Two blessed hours. All I wanted was two hours. She shook her head resignedly. Alec had been ordered to reschedule their one-on-one evening training session in order to attend a meeting and she'd been forced to forego her afternoon nap to accommodate the change. Not like she had much choice. As far as Manticore was concerned, if he ordered her to shit, she shat.

Max wasn't quite enamoured with her living conditions, her unit, the rules or anything about her current status. Lonely and friendless, she spent most of her time alone, having found a spot on the roof of her barracks that was hidden from view, undetected by the strobe lights on the watch towers surrounding the facility. It was there that she spent her time thinking, dreaming and praying for things to change.

Max wished she could discuss Lydecker's request with someone. Had she been back in Seattle she would have talked things over with Logan. But there was no one here she could confide in, no one to open up to and explain her confusion and distrust of the Colonel. While she usually made decisions quickly, Max knew that this was one time she truly needed consider every option and angle. Her family was at risk. And when it came to them, she couldn't afford to screw up.

Making her way to the gymnasium, Max considered putting the question to Alec. Hypothetically of course. If anyone would be open enough to listen, it would be him. But then again, his actions and words put him in league with the enemy.

Was desperation enough of a reason to let down the walls and trust an almost stranger?

She arrived to find the gym empty. Not wasting a moment, she quickly scrambled up one of the ropes dangling from the beams stretching across the ceiling. She leapt gracefully from one to the other, finally grabbing hold of twin rings and pulling her body taut. Suspended mid-air, arms out to her side, her muscles pulled tight and hard, she held her position. Flipping herself, Max pointed her toes up, her nose angled in a straight line to the floor below. She loved the freedom she felt when training high above ground. And when she was alone she let her mind wander, picturing more pleasant surroundings and imagining the call of the wild.

She held herself still, aware that any movement would alert Alec to her presence. The longer he thought she had failed to show, the more pissed he would be. He began pacing, muttering curses under his breath. 'Selfish bitch', 'waste of time' and a few other choice insults passed his lips, causing her to grin widely. When he was directly beneath her, she swung, propelling her body in a downward swoop and brought her feet toward his head.

Alec ducked quickly, having heard the whoosh of air coming from behind him and knowing instinctively that he was vulnerable to whatever was heading his way. As soon as Max's boots passed overhead, he jumped back and assumed a fighting stance. Before he could attack, her scent hit him and he lowered his arms to his side, then rethinking his pose, crossed his arms over his chest and glowered at her.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

Max landed gracefully on her feet and turned to face her Commanding Officer.

"You were never in any danger of getting hit. You're too good for that," she acknowledged offhandedly.

Alec looked startled at her sincerity but smirked his acceptance. "That's true."

"You're so full of yourself, you know?" she snapped at him. "Whatever. Can we get this over with? I'd like to get a little sleep, if you don't mind."

Alec heard the quiet resentment in her voice but failed to understand precisely what she meant. "Aw, 452, does missing naptime make you cranky?" he taunted. "You must miss out on a lot of sleep. It would explain your attitude."

Overpowered by a combination of exhaustion and irritation, Max finally rose to the bait. "Well if it wasn't for that pack of rabid animals you call your unit, maybe I'd get more sleep." Max refused to meet Alec's eyes, instead concentrating on removing her t-shirt, leaving her in a tight sports bra and cammies.

Alec narrowed his eyes at the barb and replied coldly. "That's my unit you're talking about. Insulting them insults me. Was that insubordination, soldier? Because if I remember correctly, I told you not to cross me again on fear of punishment."

"Get over yourself!" Max retorted, shaking her head from side to side and rolling her shoulders, cracking and popping the muscles. Seeing his anger, she hurried to apologize. She could do without a trip to isolation or extra work detail. "Forget it, okay? I didn't mean to insult you. I'm just tired."

"We get six hours sleep a night. Should be more than enough, especially for someone with shark DNA, like yourself," he replied. "You definitely shouldn't be tired at this hour."

Why can't he let it go? Trying to sidestep the issue, Max looked at the clock on the wall. "Aren't we on a tight schedule here?"

Ignoring her attempt at changing the subject, Alec closed the distance between them. "I know you sneak out of your cell at night. Off screwing the guards? If you're going to be this bitchy due to lack of sleep, I might have to consider posting a guard at your door to make sure you stay put." She eyed him warily, fire glinting dangerously in her eyes. "Failing that, I could just report you to Renfro."

"Nothing I could say would convince you, so what's the point?" she said resignedly. Her dispirited tone finally filtered through and he shot her a look of concern.

"452? Are you okay?" Her glare pierced through him, but he didn't waver, keeping his features soft and inviting her to share his confidence.

"I'm fine," she replied. Max's guard was back up, the walls reinforced. She'd come close to confiding in him, especially when he'd inquired after her state of wellbeing. She'd gotten another glimpse of 'Alec', rather than 494. Alec she could handle; he had his own vulnerabilities that she could relate to. The soldier was too overbearing, pretentious and confrontational.

He watched in fascination as her mask fell in place, eyes draining of all emotion and leaving her normally expressive, sparkling brown eyes oddly hollow. Her face was blank and she stared straight ahead, falling back on her recent behavior and distancing herself once again.

So that's how she wants to play it.

"Funny. We went almost two weeks with you ignoring me and suddenly you felt the urge to talk. Gets lonely on your own, doesn't it? But then, you should be used to it. After all, your unit abandoned us all to go off alone. Was it everything you expected?" he jeered.

"At least I'm not an egocentric, pigheaded, conceited male pig! I'd say I turned out just fine, all things considered!" she retorted, following up with a quick jab to his solar plexus, catching him off guard and knocking him a few steps backward.

Conversation forgotten for the moment, the two X5s sparred like never before. Max had improved tremendously under Alec's instruction and expert tutelage and he was feeling the brunt force of the result of her training. Combine that with her street fighting skills and she could put me down, he thought with a mixture of pride and distress. He wasn't holding back, either. Max was giving as good as she got, and then some.

When a particularly vicious blow sent him reeling back on his ass, Alec looked up at her and grinned. "Well done, 452. Your match."

Max extended a hand and he grasped it, allowing her to pull him upright. "Look," he started, uncomfortable with the way she avoided his gaze. "That dig back there...and that night when I kicked you..." She still refused to meet his eyes. Alec tentatively touched her arm, the recurrence of electricity he'd felt when they had touched in isolation shocked him. It was stronger. He wanted to comfort her, a feeling almost foreign to him.

Max flinched but didn't pull away. Alec took the opportunity to raise a trembling finger to her chin, lifting her face to his. "Look, 452, I'm not good with apologies. I'm trying here," he offered quietly.

She nodded solemnly, the movement almost imperceptible but not the male X5. He sighed in relief.

After a moment Max glanced at him, her face clouded with uncertainty. "Why?" she asked in a small voice.

"Why what?" he replied, confused.

"What changed? You seemed okay with calling me 'Max' when we were in isolation. Why am I a number now? What changed, Alec?" The emphasis on his name didn't go unnoticed.

Alec took a moment to regard her. "We were alone," he answered finally.

"We're alone here too," she pointed out.

This means a lot to her. She clings to her name like a lifeline.

He pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear in a soft gesture of unexpected tenderness. Max shivered at his touch, remembering the first time she'd experienced the sensation just weeks before. She wanted to lean into his hand, to feel that physical contact she so craved. And her mask slipped again, showing her vulnerability in every feature, eyes tightly clenched and swallowing visibly. She stepped back and his hand fell to his side.

"Max," he ventured quietly, smiling softly when her eyes fluttered open in response to hearing her name spoken aloud. "Are you sure you're okay? We may have gotten off to a bad start, but as your C.O. I hope you know you can talk to me. If there is one thing my unit will vouch for, it's that I deal with things myself; I don't pass them up the ranks."

"We need a weapons check before heading to the range," she said suddenly.

"Max," he tested the name again. He'd used it before, but now it was infinitely more dangerous. If Renfro or any of the trainers caught on, it would be both their asses on the line. "Just remember; the offer stands."

They proceeded to the artillery room whereupon they both selected assorted firearms for target practice. Minutes passed in silence, as they disassembled and reassembled their weapons, cleaning and loading them as they went.

Max wondered what thoughts were going through Alec's mind. She wondered if it would be worth opening up to him, even just a bit, or if letting him in was unwise. The weight of loneliness was a heavy burden. She missed Kendra, Logan and even, dare she admit, Asha. Even if she couldn't share all her secrets with Kendra, Logan and Asha certainly knew enough to understand somewhat. But here, inside, she was without friends, and her options left her little recourse. It was Alec or nothing.

Breaking the silence finally, Max posed her question to Alec, never breaking her concentration on her task. "Hypothetical question?"

"Shoot," he said, training his eyes on her.

"Never mind," she replied, her resolve wavering under his scrutiny.

"No, really. What?" he coaxed, eager to hear what she had to say. He wanted to know what went on inside her pretty head. He'd tried repeatedly to get a rise out of her, any reaction really, but she'd effectively ignored him, something he didn't particularly enjoy.

Max hesitated but upon meeting his eyes and seeing the sincere interest and no trace of his usual caustic self, she folded. "Hypothetically speaking. Say you had information that could help someone, but you weren't sure you could trust the middleman. Would you risk it? Knowing it might hurt more than help, but that there was a chance you could save lives?"

Hypothetical my ass, Alec snorted to himself. She's serious. "I don't know. I'd have to weigh the facts. Has the middleman given you reason to doubt him?" Max nodded vigorously. "And is he the only conduit in this case?" She nodded again, sadly this time. "Max, if I had more to go on, I could offer a more educated opinion." The hint was obvious and she knew it was all or nothing. She needed to give Deck an answer, and fast. It had been over two weeks since Lydecker told her about Tinga and the others.

"It's Lydecker. I'm sure you noticed he and I have a certain...history. A familiarity, if you will." This time it was Alec who nodded, silently urging her to continue, steadily keeping her gaze. "He sounds sincere, but I don't know if I can trust him. According to Lydecker, my unit is in danger and he wants to warn them - swears he doesn't want to hurt them, just alert them to the danger Renfro poses. He knows I have access to Eyes Only and he wants to talk to him, use him to get the message out. I don't know what to do."

Shit. That's a fucking dilemma. "I don't trust Lydecker any further than I could throw him, Max. But I don't know him like you do. What's your gut instinct telling you?"

Surprised by his question, Max considered Alec's words. What is my gut instinct telling me? "To help them," she whispered. "To keep them safe at all costs." Shaking her head and clearing her throat, Max continued quietly. "I wasn't the C.O. of my unit, Alec, but I was Zack's Second. Looking out for them isn't just something I feel I should do, it's my duty. My right. My privilege. It's like breathing. Ingrained, instinctual, necessary." Taking a deep breath and looking away she added, "They're everything to me."

Contemplative, Alec cocked his head to one side and regarded the young woman before him. She seemed broken when speaking of her unit. He'd been told of the closeness between the soldiers of Unit 5 and at times he was jealous of the strong connections they'd been allowed to form. He sensed it in Max's every word, action and facial expression when she mentioned any them.

"You must be really close to them," he stated with a trace of resentment.

"I haven't seen any of them since the escape," she admitted quietly. Alec stared at her in shock. She feels so strongly for a group of kids she hasn't seen in ten years! "I'd die if it meant keeping them safe. Surely you understand? Lydecker said you've covered for your unit on many occasions. You understand, right?"

She was desperate for someone to share that level of feeling, that same desire and compulsion to protect the ones she cared about.

Alec nodded slowly. "Yeah, I understand."

His eyes widened suddenly and he grasped Max's upper arms and shook her lightly. "Lydecker! I might have the answer you're looking for, Max." His excitement sparked something in her and she forgot everything, focusing on his earnest expression.

Taking her hand and pulling her to the benches lining the wall, he pushed her down. He began pacing, running a hand distractedly through his dark blonde hair. "I'm only telling you this because it sheds light on Lydecker. I'm trusting you, 45-Max, not to repeat this to anyone. It's a top-secret mission debriefing and you're not cleared, understood?" Alec didn't understand his own actions, but the pain in her voice, the anguish he'd seen in her eyes negated all cause for discretion. He simply felt the need to reassure her somehow, help make the decision easier.

"X5-511 and a partner were assigned by Lydecker to spy on a secret meeting between Renfro and an unidentified group of people. At least, that's what Lydecker told them at the outset."

511 entered the barracks, tired and hungry.

"494, can we make this quick? I'm exhausted."

His C.O. understood. Many a soldier had returned late at night from an obscure mission that left them drained and starving. Extracting a covered plate from under his bunk, he slid it in front of his friend. "Talk and eat at the same time. Not healthy, but a time saver."

"Thanks, man." 511 dug into the cold chicken and rice with relish. Swallowing a few bites and stopping to guzzle from a bottle of water he turned to his Commanding Officer and began his tale.

"Lydecker picked us up last night and drove us to a warehouse on the outskirts of Seattle. We took up positions on either side of the building and planted high-frequency bugs as we do. 598 had long-range microphone and video capabilities and I was in charge of comms back in the van.

"Renfro is affiliated with some weird cult. They were worshipping a snake, for cripes sake! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it, man. They totally slaughtered this poor snake and used the blood for some bald woman. Painted it on her forehead.

"After the crazy shit, Director Renfro sat down with a group of men and women and they discussed some odd things, lots of words I'd never heard before - and you know I'm well versed in foreign languages! They had books; lots of books with strange writing.

"They started talking about 452. Something about her being the one they were looking for. And then this blonde guy, total government suit type, asked Renfro if she was certain. She said no, but if it wasn't 452 then it had to be one of the other female '09ers. And that he shouldn't worry - they were close to capturing them."

Max stared at Alec in shock. "So Lydecker was on the level. If he's spying on Renfro and she's the one after my family..." her words trailed off and she offered Alec a shy smile. Suddenly feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Kissing him soundly on the lips, she squealed, "Thank you!"

Alec stood stunned at her actions. But before he could compute the action in his brain and return the kiss, she pulled away and lowered her eyes, suddenly feeling awkward at her unexpected outburst and unsure of how to act around him.

"Target practice. We're late," she said hurriedly, rushing toward the exit without waiting for him to answer.

"Right, target practice," he echoed, still reeling from the feel of her lips on his and knowing he was addicted already. He touched his fingers to his still tingling lips and muttered confusedly, "Right."

TBC