(Chapter-18)

After capturing Lex they arrived at Edwards Air Force Base just a little past midnight. Lex was escorted to the Stockade to await trial on the new charges of escape and being in possession of Security Level EO-1 Material. Once he was out of the truck the Duty Sergeant looked at Faith, "Any special instructions?"

Faith looked at the Guard, "Be sure to keep a watch on him at all times." The Duty Sergeant nodded, "Understood ma'am."

Sam walked up to Faith, "Now that he's in custody, how about a trip to the Officers Club?"

Faith nodded quickly, "Sounds like fun, lets go." Once there Sam ordered a round of beer for the group. She then reached into her jacket pocket and pulled her cell phone out. After making a few calls she smiled, "Buffy and Shego are on their way, we'll be spending the night here on base. I doubt I would have made it back to Sunnydale."

An hour later Buffy was with Faith as Shego was with Heather. Shego was drinking soda wile Heather enjoyed her beer. The fun finaly ended around three in the morning. Once in their rooms they took showers and went to bed and fell asleep quickly.

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Back at the Stockade, Lex laid awake on his bunk wondering how the hell he can escape. He laid there and smiled when the idea came to him. His idea is to escape while moving to the Court building he decided to make his escape then. He smiled and turned over and went to sleep. The next morning the Duty Sergeant banged on his door, "Hey, wake up breakfast time." They passed a tray of food through the door slot. Lex took it and began to eat.

An hour later he was escorted to the showers so he could shower and shave. Once he was done he was given a new suit of close and then lead out to a van that will take him to court. Once he was in the van pulled away from the Stockade. Five minutes later he over powered the Guard that was with him by snapping his neck. Once the Guards body hit the floor Lex banged on the the wall that seperated him from the other guard and driver, "HEY, HEY, SOMETHINGS WRONG WITH THIS GUARD BACK HERE."

The van stopped quickly a few seconds later the doors opened, "What wrong with him?" Lex smiled, "He's dead asshole?" Lex grabbed the Guards weapon and killed the second Guard and driver. He grabbed the keys and unlocked his cuffs. Looking around he seen that he was in an isolated spot. So he changed into one of the Guards uniforms and walked away from the van.

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Faith was relishing in the comfort of having Buffy in her arms. She looked down at her sleeping wife, kissed her on her forehead. She smiled again but that went away when she heard sirens in the distant. Then it hit her, "Damn it not again." Faith got up and was getting dressed when Buffy woke up, "Hey what's wrong?"

Faith looked over her shoulder, "I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count."

Buffy quickly sat up and began to get dressed, "Shit."

Once they were dressed they walked out of their Motel room, just as they got outside Sam and Janet came running up to them, "Bad news girls..."

Faith raised her hand, "I already know. I heard the sirens in the distance and put two and two together."

Sam smiled, "Damn you're good. I only found out ten minutes ago."

Buffy giggled, "It's a gift."

Faith leaned on the banister out side her Motel room, "What are they doing to get him?"

Sam stood next to Faith, "They locked the base down, no one gets on or off the base. incoming flights are allowed to enter, but outbound flights are cancelled."

Faith nodded, "Let's wake the others and help with the search."

Sam smiled, "The Air Force has ordered all search teams to report to you. Do to your experience."

Faith smiled, "Cool!"

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Lex was trying to stay out of sight, he was trying to find a way off the base. But everywhere he turned he was blocked. Lex looked looked around, and was amazed at the security. The last time he seen this kind of security was just after nine-eleven. So he knew it would take a miracle to get of the base. So all he could do is wait till security let up and he could leave.

Faith and her people were guided to a special Command Post for the search.

Shego looked around and snickered at what they had. She leaned to Heather, "Damn sweetie this stuff is stone age compared to my Command Center."

Heather gave a fake shocked look, "Hey they try their best." But then Heather laughed, "But I have to agree, this stuff is stone age computers."

Faith stepped forward, "Can I have your attention please." All the Air Force personal turned to look at Faith, "During this operation I'll be in charge. All information will be given to Shego who will then give it to me. The reason for this is that Shego is my Communations and Security Expert. So let get to work people."

The Air Force personnel turned to their monitors and began their search for Lex.

Faith leaned forward on a railing watching the fury of work going on. She sighed and rubbed her face and looked at Buffy, "Baby, will this crap with Lex ever end?"

Buffy took Faith's hand and kissed it, "It'll end once we get him back into custody and in the Cryo-Stasis Wing of Pacifica."

Faith nodded, "I hope so sweetie, I hope so."

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For the next four days every personnel on the base searched for Lex, but no one could find him. When they got a lead to his location he was gone by the time they got there. Faith was getting pissed.

Out by the dry lake bed Lex was hiding in an old Ammo Bunker. He knew he was safe for a while cause he watched them search the area. With the camping gear and the Portable Air Conditioning Units he stole from the Exchange store and the food he stole from the Base PX he would be able to hold up where he was for a week or so. He walked over and checked the weapons he had, he had five clips of ammunition for the M-16 and six for the 9-MM.

He then took stock of his supplies, he didn't need any food for at least two weeks. But his water was running low and he knew he had to risk being seen to get his water jugs filled. So he decided to wait till nightfall to get his water.

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Back at the Command Center, Faith was reading some reports when she came across a report that showed the thefts from the Exchange and PX.

Faith couldn't believe they never showed her the reports, "Shego look at this?"

Shego took the paper and read it, "Where was this?"

Faith sighed, "Buried in all these reports. Get on the phone and call the Base Commander." Shego smiled and did as she was asked, she knew there was gonna be some hell raising in a few minutes.

And sure enough, the shit hit the fan.

Faith leaned on the desk, "And you felt that the theft of enough camping gear to outfit a Scout Troop and enough food to feed the homeless of L.A. for two days not important?"

General Brice leaned forward where he was now face to face with Faith, "Listen little girl, I don't go around telling you how to do your job. So don't tell me how to do mine."

Faith sneered, "Well as long as the President says I have authority on this search, I will tell you exactly how to do your job."

The General stood, "Well Mrs. Lehane we'll just have to see about that." He reached over and picked up the phone that was a direct line to the White House, After a few minutes of talking to the President he hung up, "I stand corrected, but I still feel that the report was just a low level report."

Faith stood and walked to a window and looked out at the aircraft. She turned and walked to a map, and smiled. She turned and banged on the glass and motioned for Shego to join them.

A few minutes later Shego walked in and sat in a chair by the door, "Speak it girl."

Faith smiled, "As we know Lex can't get off the base, so he's held up somewhere. This report states that the Base Exchange was robbed of enough camping equipment to outfit a Boy Scout Troop. They also reported the theft of two Portable Air Conditioning Units and several cases of batteries and a few Auto batteries to boot. And then there's the theft of enough food to feed the homeless of L.A. for two days."

The General nodded, "Yes I see where this is leading, he's held up somewhere. But he's held up here on base where he needs Air Conditioning."

Faith smiled, "Correct, but where?" Faith looked at the map for a few minutes, "General what's this area here out by the lake bed?"

Shego got up and stood next to Faith to she what she was pointing to.

The General looked at the map, "Those are old Cold War Ammo Bunkers. They're not in use anymore because we built State of the Art Bunkers. Years ago when the Ammo was stored there some of it would go off because of..." The General smiled, "The heat. They don't have Air Conditioned rooms like the new Bunkers."

Faith turned to pick up the search report, "They already searched there, but if I'm correct Lex was watching until the search ended."

The General nodded, "And with the stuff he stole from the Exchange he moved right in."

Faith smiled, "Now you're thinking like Lex."

The General reached over and picked up the phone, "This is General Brice, have all available personnel gather outside the Command Building with Non-Lethal, I repeat Non-Lethal Weapons. Shall we go get him ladies?"

Shego was about to get up when Faith stopped her, "Don't even think about it chica. Heather would have my head as a trophy if you went. You can stay here and monitor Communications."

Shego crossed her arms and gave a fake pout and then she let loose the puppy dog eyes.

Faith smiled, "That won't even work girl."

Shego stuck her toung out at Faith, "Meanie." and then smiled, "Be safe."

Faith hugged her friend, "I will."

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A few minutes later Faith and General Brice walked out and met those who were going to help capture Lex. The General stood on the top step, "Listen up, we may have a location of the fugitive Lex Luther. We believe he's held up at the old Ammo Bunkers. Because of how many there are it may take a few hours to search them all. So saddle up and lets move out."

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Thirty ninutes later the search group was out side the Bunkers.

Faith sighed, "Listen up, Lex Luther is armed and will do anything to keep from being captured. So if you want to back out now do so. I promise you will not be punished if you do" Faith looked around and saw an Air Force Private walk forward, "I'm sorry ma'am, my wife just gave birth to our first child. And I would like to see her grow up."

Faith smiled, "Hey no problem. My Communications Expert is pregnant with her wife's baby. That's why she didn't get to come. So go on home and be with that new baby."

The Private smiled and turned to go home.

Faith looked around, "Good lets start the search.."

For almost two hours they searched the Bunkers with no luck. Faith was about to call it off when she noticed that the door she was next to was wet. And the only way it could get wet like it was is rain, and that hadn't happened for almost a week or Air Conditioning. Faith smiled on the second choice. Faith looked at the General and motioned to the door she was at. When she had enough back up she slowly opened the door.

Once opened, Faith entered the Bunker and looked around and there in the corner asleep on a sleeping bag was Lex. She then slowly handed the weapons to a Sergeant so Lex couldn't ever get to them again.

She then slowly walked over to where he was sleeping and tapped him on the shoulder.

Lex stired, "Mommy I don't wanna go to school today."

She looked at the others who were trying to keep from laughing. After a few minutes Faith reached over and picked up an old news paper and rolled it up and with all her strength whacked him right across his rear.

Lex jumped like he had been shot, "Who the...?"

Faith smiled, "Guess who asshole?"

A few hours later the news was spread that Lex was back in custody. And this time Faith's people was gonna handle his transportation to and from his trial, which didn't last long. A few months later he was found guilty of all charges. But everyone wanted to hear his sentencing.

The Judge looked up, "Alexander Luther, it is the ruling of this Court that you be sentenced to Cryo-Stasis at Pacifica for no more then one hundred and fifty years, where you will then be returned to the Prison's General Population where you will live out the remainder of your life." The Judge lowered his gavel ending a long and hard fought battle.