1.1 Chapter 2
October 2016
X5 426 pushed the door in front of her open. It creaked as it slid across the floor. Taking a depth breath she craned her vision searching for signs of life. She was in an old factory, which was run down and falling apart. The machinery had picked up dust and cobwebs over the years. Yet she could hear a low rumbling.
She turned her head towards the sound and found herself looking at an old power source. People were living here. After moving further into the factory she became aware of the sound of distant voices in the background but was unable to make out what they were saying. Following the sound of the voices 426 found her self walking towards a dark corner. The voices continued to get louder as she got closer to a large concrete wall.
Placing her head against the concrete she was able to make out what was being said. Pushing away from the wall 426 headed back towards her main root in. Passing through the open door she moved to the side of the building and into the dense forest surrounding it.
"This is X5 426. I can confirm headquarters."
"Copy that X5 426 please confirm address."
"Maven Factory Sector 8"
"Copy that X5 426"
"Sir, I'm being watched" Two men jumped her, the first brought her too her knees while the other held her down. She kicked back her leg and slammed it into the face of one of her attackers. She could vaguely hear the voice of X5 494 ringing in her ear. Another man jumped her. He brought his fist up into the side of her Jew before grabbing the back of her hair. He pulled her head back so that she was looking at his.
He was old, grey haired with a short beard. He was wearing a large red and black cloak with unknown symbols running down the side. He was a priest. Under the cloak he wore black with a white collar.
"Bring her inside, check the perimeter for others." 426 was dragged by both arms back into the factory. She continued to kick at her captures until her legs burnt. Then with one mighty swing a fist came down onto her scull and she was propelled into unconsciousness.
1.2 Present
"She was in my unit back at Manticore" Alec handed the photo to Logan.
"X5 426, she was a surveillance expert" Alec moved away from Max and sat down next to Asha on the couch. "She was murdered by a group of anti Manticores. Formed from a religious group. Their goal in life was to end ours." Max looked down at Alec he could see a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"How did they know about Manticore, let alone what went on behind closed doors" Max looked at Logan than back at Alec.
"They had some one working on the inside, David Gavings. From what I was told, he would send out information about X series soldier's on away missions. They would be hunted down and killed."
Logan typed David Gavings name into his search database, hoping to add onto what Alec already new.
"His Father was a priest" Logan pointed out. Alec nodded, "He died in a chemical leak three years ago.
"Any way manticore found out that they weren't just random killings. Gavings father headed a cult of Anti Transgenic. They believed that we were a breach in nature." Alec checked to see every one was still with him. "Kind of a religious based group, they had some pretty strong views"
"My unit was sent to kill Gavings father, he didn't die in a chemical fire"
Max was finely catching on. "Manticore thought that if their leader was dead, this cult would die out. Manticore covered up his death. Made it look like an accident"
"Manticore wanted all signs of this cult dead. X5 426 went to confirm the whereabouts of their headquarters. We were speaking through COM links, she was ambushed.
2 "They killed her" Logan took another look at the dead women in the photo.
The helplessness that Max saw in Alec's eyes when he had first found the photo was beginning to creeping back.
"After she disappeared we took out their headquarters, it's supposed to be over" Alec ran his hand through his hair, the strain was beginning to show. Alec had a way of bottling up his emotions, but eventually they would show, sometimes with disastrous outcomes. Max moved next to him kneeling at the end of the couch.
"Were find out where the photo came from, Alec has some thing happened to you in the past couple of days" Alec looked up at Max, heard a sensitive touch to her voice.
"I haven't been sleeping well, that's why I've been calling in sick," Seeing the worry in her eyes, he continued. "It's nothing Max, I never sleep well. It just takes a while to catch up to me."
"Maybe Alec shouldn't go home" Asha looked at Logan. Alec rubbed the back of his neck.
"You know were probably over reacting, this cult is dead" Alec looked at his watch. Max signed Great now he's in denial. "Then who put the photo in your locker." Alec turned around and smirked at her, "Santa Clause" Seeing the anger creep into her face, "Look Max I appreciate your concern, I came hear didn't I, but I'm fine" Turning around he headed towards the exit.
"Let him go" Logan put his hand next to hers, just out of reach, Max looked at it. Turned and walked out after Alec. Asha walked other to Logan. "I can ask around"
"What" Logan looked up. Asha looked concerned. "See what I can find out, for Alec's sake. We may find that we are other reacting. It was just one photo"
Logan looked back at his computer. "I don't think were over reacting, I think this could be series." Logan pushed his wheelchair out from under his desk. "The photo was put their for a reason, this cult may very well be up and running." Asha nodded. "I just hope Alec realises that."
The day before
Agent White pushed through double doors and continued to head up a long hallway. Turning right he stopped at a single door marked personals only. Waiting, a young man on his left opened the door. White stepped in followed by two other men.
"Sorry that I'm late I had some important business I had to attend to, I hope I did not keep you waiting," Agent White, with two of his own men, stood opposite three other men.
"Not at all, we have been made quite welcome" The oldest man stepped forward and shook Whites hand. The two men walked to his side and removed his cloak from his shoulders. White pointed to the chairs lying against the far wall, turning they headed towards them and seated them selves.
"You may have heard that not long ago the Manticore facility was destroyed, I'm afraid that what you were told about the deaths of the X series soldiers were untrue. Although many were killed, more escaped and are living here in Seattle." The older man took in white's words.
"My brother was murdered by them, we fell apart" Andrew Gavings looked at White. Standing up from his chair white moved so he was in front of Gavings.
"But you are strong, and so is your quest" White took Gavings hands in his own, "I have been trying to rid earth of these anomalies." White looked up into Gavings eyes.
"And now we will do it together" Gavings men stood from their seats and moved closer to white, "Starting here" White placed a set of photo's into Gavings left hand. Gavings looked at them, then at White. A smile spread across his face. He turned to his followers, "Contact the others, today is the start of the end" Gavings dropped the pictures, as they fluttered to the ground, White looked down, Max and Alec's features starred up at them.
"Yes today is the beginning of the end"
To be continued,
Sorry about the lack of action, I promise it will pick up. Chapter 3 has lot of action in it. Any review would be helpful. I love hearing your comments.
October 2016
X5 426 pushed the door in front of her open. It creaked as it slid across the floor. Taking a depth breath she craned her vision searching for signs of life. She was in an old factory, which was run down and falling apart. The machinery had picked up dust and cobwebs over the years. Yet she could hear a low rumbling.
She turned her head towards the sound and found herself looking at an old power source. People were living here. After moving further into the factory she became aware of the sound of distant voices in the background but was unable to make out what they were saying. Following the sound of the voices 426 found her self walking towards a dark corner. The voices continued to get louder as she got closer to a large concrete wall.
Placing her head against the concrete she was able to make out what was being said. Pushing away from the wall 426 headed back towards her main root in. Passing through the open door she moved to the side of the building and into the dense forest surrounding it.
"This is X5 426. I can confirm headquarters."
"Copy that X5 426 please confirm address."
"Maven Factory Sector 8"
"Copy that X5 426"
"Sir, I'm being watched" Two men jumped her, the first brought her too her knees while the other held her down. She kicked back her leg and slammed it into the face of one of her attackers. She could vaguely hear the voice of X5 494 ringing in her ear. Another man jumped her. He brought his fist up into the side of her Jew before grabbing the back of her hair. He pulled her head back so that she was looking at his.
He was old, grey haired with a short beard. He was wearing a large red and black cloak with unknown symbols running down the side. He was a priest. Under the cloak he wore black with a white collar.
"Bring her inside, check the perimeter for others." 426 was dragged by both arms back into the factory. She continued to kick at her captures until her legs burnt. Then with one mighty swing a fist came down onto her scull and she was propelled into unconsciousness.
1.2 Present
"She was in my unit back at Manticore" Alec handed the photo to Logan.
"X5 426, she was a surveillance expert" Alec moved away from Max and sat down next to Asha on the couch. "She was murdered by a group of anti Manticores. Formed from a religious group. Their goal in life was to end ours." Max looked down at Alec he could see a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"How did they know about Manticore, let alone what went on behind closed doors" Max looked at Logan than back at Alec.
"They had some one working on the inside, David Gavings. From what I was told, he would send out information about X series soldier's on away missions. They would be hunted down and killed."
Logan typed David Gavings name into his search database, hoping to add onto what Alec already new.
"His Father was a priest" Logan pointed out. Alec nodded, "He died in a chemical leak three years ago.
"Any way manticore found out that they weren't just random killings. Gavings father headed a cult of Anti Transgenic. They believed that we were a breach in nature." Alec checked to see every one was still with him. "Kind of a religious based group, they had some pretty strong views"
"My unit was sent to kill Gavings father, he didn't die in a chemical fire"
Max was finely catching on. "Manticore thought that if their leader was dead, this cult would die out. Manticore covered up his death. Made it look like an accident"
"Manticore wanted all signs of this cult dead. X5 426 went to confirm the whereabouts of their headquarters. We were speaking through COM links, she was ambushed.
2 "They killed her" Logan took another look at the dead women in the photo.
The helplessness that Max saw in Alec's eyes when he had first found the photo was beginning to creeping back.
"After she disappeared we took out their headquarters, it's supposed to be over" Alec ran his hand through his hair, the strain was beginning to show. Alec had a way of bottling up his emotions, but eventually they would show, sometimes with disastrous outcomes. Max moved next to him kneeling at the end of the couch.
"Were find out where the photo came from, Alec has some thing happened to you in the past couple of days" Alec looked up at Max, heard a sensitive touch to her voice.
"I haven't been sleeping well, that's why I've been calling in sick," Seeing the worry in her eyes, he continued. "It's nothing Max, I never sleep well. It just takes a while to catch up to me."
"Maybe Alec shouldn't go home" Asha looked at Logan. Alec rubbed the back of his neck.
"You know were probably over reacting, this cult is dead" Alec looked at his watch. Max signed Great now he's in denial. "Then who put the photo in your locker." Alec turned around and smirked at her, "Santa Clause" Seeing the anger creep into her face, "Look Max I appreciate your concern, I came hear didn't I, but I'm fine" Turning around he headed towards the exit.
"Let him go" Logan put his hand next to hers, just out of reach, Max looked at it. Turned and walked out after Alec. Asha walked other to Logan. "I can ask around"
"What" Logan looked up. Asha looked concerned. "See what I can find out, for Alec's sake. We may find that we are other reacting. It was just one photo"
Logan looked back at his computer. "I don't think were over reacting, I think this could be series." Logan pushed his wheelchair out from under his desk. "The photo was put their for a reason, this cult may very well be up and running." Asha nodded. "I just hope Alec realises that."
The day before
Agent White pushed through double doors and continued to head up a long hallway. Turning right he stopped at a single door marked personals only. Waiting, a young man on his left opened the door. White stepped in followed by two other men.
"Sorry that I'm late I had some important business I had to attend to, I hope I did not keep you waiting," Agent White, with two of his own men, stood opposite three other men.
"Not at all, we have been made quite welcome" The oldest man stepped forward and shook Whites hand. The two men walked to his side and removed his cloak from his shoulders. White pointed to the chairs lying against the far wall, turning they headed towards them and seated them selves.
"You may have heard that not long ago the Manticore facility was destroyed, I'm afraid that what you were told about the deaths of the X series soldiers were untrue. Although many were killed, more escaped and are living here in Seattle." The older man took in white's words.
"My brother was murdered by them, we fell apart" Andrew Gavings looked at White. Standing up from his chair white moved so he was in front of Gavings.
"But you are strong, and so is your quest" White took Gavings hands in his own, "I have been trying to rid earth of these anomalies." White looked up into Gavings eyes.
"And now we will do it together" Gavings men stood from their seats and moved closer to white, "Starting here" White placed a set of photo's into Gavings left hand. Gavings looked at them, then at White. A smile spread across his face. He turned to his followers, "Contact the others, today is the start of the end" Gavings dropped the pictures, as they fluttered to the ground, White looked down, Max and Alec's features starred up at them.
"Yes today is the beginning of the end"
To be continued,
Sorry about the lack of action, I promise it will pick up. Chapter 3 has lot of action in it. Any review would be helpful. I love hearing your comments.