Disclaimer: Nope, last time I looked in a mirror I wasn't James Cameron or anyone else lucky enough to own Dark Angel.
Summary: Sequel to "Then it comes to be." The cult loonies are gone but the transgenics have other problems to deal with, not to mention a whole civilization to build. M/A
Rating: R because of occasional violence and sex.
A/N: The NC-17 version of this story is posted at http://nunswithpens.hyperboards.com/.
WARNING: This is the R-rated version of this chapter. There IS a sex scene that's been deleted from the original version of this chapter. For the details about what really happened after Alec got back to the apartment, check out NWP!!
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Max, Alec, and the rest of the command group watched in silence as a convoy of government sedans and supply trucks pulled up outside their gate. The drivers of the two sedans jumped out and hurried to open the doors for their passengers. The negotiator Witherspoon stepped out of the first car, Colonel Lydecker got out of the second. The driver of the second car grabbed Lydecker's bag from the trunk and handed it to him. The two men walked calmly toward the gate. Lydecker stepped forward to enter the compound but the waiting transgenics blocked his progress into Terminal City and refused to move aside.
"You have your man on the ground now. So get THAT out of here," Max said and pointed at the FBI surveillance van.
Witherspoon and Max stared each other in the eye for several seconds. Witherspoon smiled a fake smile. "There seems to be a misunderstanding," he said smoothly. "That van is here for your protection, to keep an eye on the local population. They may become…agitated again by your presence here."
"We don't need your 'protection'. Now pull it out or there's no deal." She glared at him.
The negotiator's smile froze. "Of course," he said in a slightly sour tone of voice. He snapped his fingers at an aide, who walked over to the van and climbed in the back.
Max and Alec stood with their arms crossed, waiting in silence for the van to leave. Finally after several tense minutes the aide retreated from the van. The engine started and it backed up slowly. The transgenics waited until it was out of sight before moving aside to let Lydecker and the trucks enter TC.
"We will be in touch, 452. Good day." Witherspoon spun on his heel and stalked over to his waiting car.
Max and Alec led the way as the rest of the command team enclosed Lydecker in a box formation and escorted him toward HQ. The entire population of TC was gathered outside base to witness the return of Deck into their lives. They deliberately huddled in disorganized groups or slouched against the walls. It was a far cry from the orderly rows of soldiers standing at attention on the parade grounds of Manticore. It was a symbol, a declaration of defiance.
Lydecker smiled at them in pride anyway. "Morning, soldiers."
"Don't even think you get to address them!" Max hissed in anger. Then she turned to face the assembled transgenics. "You all remember Deck. But this isn't Manticore. He has no rank here. So no one salutes him, no one calls him sir, and no one takes orders from him. The government sent him here so they could feel like they're in control of us. But they aren't. This is Freak Nation. It's ours, and no ordinary gets to tell us how it's gonna be."
Lydecker was taken aback by the depth of anger he felt running through the crowd. He'd known that Max would be angry with him because of what had been done to her and her siblings, but he hadn't expected them all to be so upset. *The committee has underestimated them. This won't be as easy as they think.*
Alec smoothly took over from Max. "Ok people, we got work to do. Let's go." The crowd immediately turned and dispersed, heading off to their assigned tasks.
Max walked past HQ to a ramshackle building close by. "This one's all yours. It's got four walls and the roof hasn't caved in yet, which is pretty much as good as it gets around here." Lydecker shrugged indifferently and dropped his gear by the door. He'd pick a room later. Then he turned and followed Max and Alec and the rest inside HQ.
Max pointed to an empty desk in the far corner of the room. "Yours. But don't even think you get a say in what goes on around here."
Alec pinned Max with his gaze. "Max. Go help Joshua unload the truck." She opened her mouth to argue and then sighed and turned on her heel and left HQ.
*Interesting,* Lydecker thought to himself. *So 494 is the one who's really in charge around here.*
Alec ignored Lydecker's presence and turned to face Dix. "I need you to set up a data base on every X and freak in Terminal City. We need to know what training they've had, any special skills, what languages they speak, what kind of experience they've had, and what kind of missions they'd be willing to accept. Recon, retrieval, surveillance…or assassination."
Dix nodded. "No problem boss." He looked up at Alec and smiled, proud to be of use.
Lydecker watched the interchange with interest. The one called Dix had been created to do tech work, but here he was going far beyond his parameters because his CO asked it of him. A distinctly human trait in a very non-human creature.
"This gets priority. Anything you need, you got it." Alec slapped Dix on the shoulder and started to move away.
"Um, boss? You said you want this information for both Xs AND freaks?" Dix asked as he fiddled with a pen nervously.
"Yep. That's what I said."
"Uh, ok. Just checking." Dix looked down, avoiding Alec's eye.
"Just checking what, Dix?" Alec asked quietly.
"It's nothing. Really." Alec just looked at him with one eyebrow raised, clearly waiting for an answer. Dix sighed and explained. "It's just that some of the freaks were wondering if the deal applied to us too. If we'd, you know, get to go on missions, or whatever."
"Of course it does. If the mission calls for special ops, they'll be the ones sent in. Look, I know how things were at Manticore. You guys were considered second best to the X-series. But this isn't Manticore. Here everyone's the same. Got it?"
"Yeah" he grinned, relieved.
Just then Leda walked into HQ. "Hey boss," she called to Alec from the doorway. She deliberately ignored Lydecker. "We're all set."
"Great." Alec turned to face Lydecker. "Leda will take you to the infirmary and give you that transfusion. We wouldn't want you to drop dead in a couple of days from some toxic germ or anything." Lydecker smiled and headed across the room to the medic. Leda refused to meet his eyes, just turned on her heel and led him out of HQ without a word.
----*----
Max sat at her desk and stared at her phone for a long time before she worked up the nerve to call Logan. The only way she could begin to tolerate the idea of trading their skills for their lives and their freedom was if she could be certain that they only went after really nasty people. Logan was the best resource they had for quickly finding out what they needed to know about the target. But she wasn't certain he'd be willing to help them out right now. The deal with the government wasn't exactly the kind of thing Eyes Only would approve of. And considering how she'd ended things between them just over a week ago, he might not want to have anything more to do with them at all. The main reason he'd supported the transgenic cause in the first place was because of her, and she'd rejected him for another man.
She picked up the phone and then immediately put it down again. *What am I supposed to say to him? 'Hi, I know I smashed your heart but would you do me a favour?' I'll be lucky if he doesn't just hang up on me.* She clenched her trembling hands and took a deep breath. *Get a grip already. If he wants to yell at you, let him. You can take it. You're a soldier for god's sake. Never show fear.* She willed her hands to stop shaking. She grabbed the phone and dialled before she could change her mind and chicken out again.
He answered on the second ring. Yeah.
Hey, it's me she said softly.
Logan jumped at the unexpected sound of her voice. The pleasure he felt at hearing her voice again was swamped by his anger and hurt. What do you want Max? he asked a little more harshly than he intended.
She winced slightly at the tone of his voice. Just to talk.
Oh really? And what do we have to talk about? What are you hoping will happen, Max? That we'll just go back to the way things were between us when we first met? Pretend like nothing ever happened between us?
I want us to be friends again.
Yeah, well, friendship isn't what I want for us Max he said bitterly.
I'm sorry Logan. You want me to feel guilty about this? Well guess what, I already do. I never meant to hurt you. But I can't help the way that I feel about him.
And I can't help the way that I feel about you.
Max looked down at her hands. She didn't want to argue with him, and it didn't seem like they were going to be able to get past this. You're right. This wasn't a good idea. I just wanted… She sighed. I won't call you again. She started to move the phone away from her ear.
Wait! *Friendship or nothing. Is that all I get? It's not much of a choice.* This week without her had been the loneliest of his life. Logan took a deep breath and tried to force his anger aside. None of this was her fault. Alec was the one to blame. Alec was the one who had come between them and ruined everything. He should be yelling at Alec, not her. He searched desperately for something else to say, anything to keep her on the line. So, um, what's going on inside Terminal City?
Max smiled slightly, relieved that he was at least willing to try talking. We're negotiating with the government. Trying to reach a compromise we can both live with. They insisted on sending in an observer to keep an eye on us.
Oh yeah? Who'd they send? FBI?
I wish. Nah, they sent us good ol' Deck. she said sarcastically.
He's still alive? Logan asked surprised. He'd searched for Lydecker months ago, but he'd disappeared so completely that Logan had finally concluded he'd been killed in that car wreck. But then again, the cops never found a body so he probably shouldn't be that surprised that Deck had survived.
Yeah. He arrived this morning.
That must've been really hard for you. I know how much you dislike the guy. But, you know Max, he did help you and Zack and the others take out the DNA lab. And he did help me expose Manticore. So maybe he's not as bad as you think.
I know. That's the only reason we agreed to it. But it still sucks.
How's he gonna survive inside Terminal City? He's human.
We'll have to transfuse him every couple of weeks. Not only do we gotta put up with having a spy, but we've gotta keep him alive too. Could my life get any weirder?
Hey, don't tempt fate. You never know he teased. It was lame but it was a place to start. It was the way he used to talk to her, before the virus took over their lives and made it impossible for them to act or talk naturally around each other. If they could get back to that, maybe he could show her how right they were for one another. So what else does the government want? he asked.
It's not important right now, she said quickly. We're still working out the details. He'd sounded so hurt when he first heard her voice. And now he was making an effort to move past their failed relationship and act like friends, trying to get back into their old rhythm. She didn't want him to think she'd only called to make use of his informants. There'd always be time to ask for his help later.
Logan smiled as a thought occurred to him. *She's got HIM right there but she's still reaching out to me. Because whatever she feels for him, it's not really love. All she ever did was bitch and complain about him. And now that she's with him, he's probably driving her crazy. So all I have to do is show her that I can give her more than he possibly could.* Aloud he said Max? Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. I mean it.
Thanks she said, grateful that he would still be willing to help the transgenics out after the way she'd treated him. I really am sorry about everything, Logan. Alec-
Don't, Max he interrupted. I don't want to talk about him.
Ok. I'll call you. Soon.
Be careful, Max. Logan said before he hung up. For the first time in over a week he felt hope that maybe she wasn't entirely lost to him.
----*----
Max woke suddenly, disturbed by a small sound. She glanced around the dim apartment, trying to identify what had woken her up. Alec moaned again in his sleep. His breathing was ragged and he shuddered and lashed out, trying to fight off whatever was hurting him in his dream. She shook his shoulder gently at first and then harder when she couldn't get him to wake up immediately. "Alec," she called. "Alec, wake up."
Alec gasped and woke with a jerk. He sat straight up. It took a few seconds for his surroundings to register in his brain. *It was just a nightmare. It's not real. It's not happening again.* He ran a hand through his hair and tried to slow his racing heartbeat. He'd been dreaming about Psy Ops again – the pulsing lights, the mocking voices, the pain.
"Alec." Max said softly. She reached out to touch his back but hesitated, not sure if he would welcome the physical contact right now. "It was just a dream."
"No. Not a dream. A memory." He turned to look at her. His face was haunted and his eyes were dark with pain.
"About Manticore? And what they did to you in Psy Ops?" she asked tentatively, not wanting to push him into talking about it if he really didn't want to.
He laid his fingers against her lips and then brushed her cheek. "I don't want to talk about it Max. I just want to forget." He kissed her lightly and climbed out of bed. He grabbed his jeans and t-shirt off the floor. "I'm going for a run" he said as he threw on his clothes.
Max sat up and pulled the sheets close around her body. The night air was cool against her bare skin. Alec turned and gave her a small smile. "I'm alright. I just need to move." She nodded and he slipped silently out of their apartment.
He ran and let the physical motion empty his mind. It was still quite early and Terminal City was deserted. The only people around were the sentries guarding the perimeter. He nodded at them but didn't stop to chat. He ran past a stack of two-by-fours and other building supplies. Some of the X-6s had become interested in home repair during the clean up and were trying to fix up the most badly damaged buildings. He turned a corner and ran across the only grassy space in TC. A pair of metal posts had been shoved into the ground at opposite ends of the field as makeshift goalposts. Zane and Krit had taught the younger kids how to play soccer. Most of them had never played team sports before. Now for the first time in their lives they were making friends and acting like kids. Alec grinned, pleased that some of the transgenics had finally got a chance at a childhood.
He turned another corner and ran past HQ. He stopped dead when he saw Lydecker sitting on the steps of his building. He'd risen early and had gone outside to watch the sun rise. They stared at each other in silence for half a minute. "Having trouble sleeping?" Deck asked, just to make conversation.
"I wonder why," Alec snapped angrily.
Deck saw the look of pain deep in Alec's eyes and felt the tiniest stirring of guilt. He started to speak but Alec cut him off. "No. I don't want to hear it. I already know what your excuse was for doing that to me. I didn't buy it then and I don't buy it now. Cuz I was right to try and save them. They weren't a threat." He turned on his heel and ran back to his apartment.
As he walked through the door he pulled off his sweat-soaked t-shirt. He needed a shower. Max was still in bed, reading. She looked up from her book, waiting to take her cue from him. He grinned and shook his head at her. "Still in bed, lazybones? C'mon, take a shower with me." He reached for her hand and pulled her from the bed. Her arms wrapped around his back and he bent his head to nip gently at her shoulder.
"Or," she said with a laugh and pressed against his chest, "we could take a shower later."
Alec took a step forward, forcing her to back up. Her legs pressed against the side of the bed causing her knees to buckle, and she fell sideways across the bed. Alec fell with her, pinning her down with his weight. He brushed a strand of hair off her forehead and looked deep into her eyes. His own were dark and troubled. Max slipped her hands around his neck and gently stroked his bar code. She pulled his head down to hers and captured his mouth. Her lips parted and she drew him in, wanting to taste him.
He delved into her mouth, tasting her, wrestling with her tongue. He ground his hips against hers, the friction making them both pant. She could feel his growing erection through his jeans. She scratched her nails down his back to his waist then slid her hands around his sides to fumble at his zipper.
----*----
"Max," he breathed out as he lay on top of her. He waited for their hearts to stop pounding and then reluctantly rolled off her. She stretched like a cat, her back arching towards the ceiling. "Don't tease," he said, "or we'll be late again."
"Maybe you should think about moving the morning meeting back an hour."
"We'd still be late," he said with a grin. He reached for her and pulled her so she was lying on top of him. "Maybe I should just cancel the meetings altogether," he said and brought her hand to his lips and kissed the soft skin on the inside of her wrist.
She slapped his shoulder playfully. "Nice attitude commander."
He pouted, and then moved his hands down her back to her ass and pulled her closer. She giggled. "We'll take a long lunch," she promised before jumping off the bed. "Now c'mon. I want that shower."
She hauled him to his feet and pulled him into the bathroom. His hands roamed her body as she turned on the water. Max giggled as his fingers tickled her sides. She twisted in his arms and reached for the shampoo bottle but Alec took it away from her. "Let me," he said. He squeezed a generous amount into his hand and worked the shampoo into her long hair. Then his strong fingers massaged her scalp and she closed her eyes as he reached the tense spot at the base of her skull. "Ohhh," she sighed in pleasure as he worked the tension out of her neck. Her lips curved into a wicked smile and she reached for his waist and pulled his hips against hers. She playfully rubbed against him and she could feel him growing hard in response.
"I thought you wanted to be on time," Alec said as he pushed her under the spray to rinse out the shampoo. He quickly washed his own hair. He turned to grab the soap, but Max had it in her hand. She moved it behind her back. "Come and get it," she said with a teasing smile.
He gave her a wicked grin and then grabbed her and pulled her tight against him. One hand moved to her ass while the other tangled in her wet hair. He held her by the back of the head and kissed her roughly, his lips grinding against hers. She moaned as she felt his tongue push into her mouth. A current of pleasure shot down her spine and settled between her legs. His hand moved from her ass and deftly stole the soap from her unresisting hand. He tossed it in the soap dish and pushed her back against the wall.
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A/N: Please review! And like I said at the top, go to NWP for the NC-17 version of this chapter.