CHAPTER FOUR
Note: Instead of having all the characters talking about Alec's past, this chapter is set four years ago.
Alec sat on the edge of the bed as he waited for the footsteps he'd heard to reach his door; two minutes later the iron door was finally pulled open and a soldier entered the room. He pushed an angry looking girl into the room; her eyes darting around surveying her new room.
ALEC: What have we here?
SOLDIER: You're new roommate.
ALEC: I wasn't aware I had an old one.
The soldier ignores his comment and steps out of the room slamming the door behind him.
ALEC: A little early for visiting hours isn't it?
She ignores him and jumps on to the top bunk.
ALEC: So, have you been told to be silent until training tomorrow or something?
She faces him with a bored expression on her oval face.
JESSE: If I had it my way I wouldn't be here at all.
ALEC: Why did you get moved in the first place?
JESSE: I don't know...Something happened to the person I was with.
ALEC: What?
JESSE: I wouldn't tell you even if I did know.
She lies down on her bunk and stares at the ceiling; they remain silent for the next ten minutes. Alec gets off his bunk and leans on hers.
JESSE: What!
ALEC: Tell me about yourself.
JESSE: Just imagine your own life and change the face, and that's me.
He smirks at her.
ALEC: I don't think so 'cos' I act completely different to the other X5's, some might say I have an attitude problem...
JESSE: We're not supposed to talk much, remember? So how could anyone say anything about you?
ALEC: Call me crazy but I don't think your that much like the other's either.
She rolls over and faces the wall, She hears him lie back down on his own bunk.
JESSE: You're crazy.
* * *
They'd been chained under water for four minutes now, one more minutes to go and this exercise would be over, then on to the next, training as usual. Jesse looks to the side and sees Alec, he turns to her and she closes her eyes lying her head in her hands as if she's falling asleep, he tries to hold back a smile. The cuffs around their legs snap open and they swim to the surface of the pool. Jesse's yanked out of the pool and is spun around to see the cloudy face of Lydecker; looming above her.
LYDECKER: I don't tolerate cockiness! Acting the fool is what will get you killed! Do you hear me?
She opens her mouth to say something, anything insolent back. Across the pool she sees Alec sake his head and she lowers her eyes before Lydecker.
JESSE: Yes sir.
LYDECKER: I can't hear you.
She speaks again louder this time.
JESSE: Yes sir!
LYDECKER: That's better; I don't want to see you acting the fool again...Dismissed.
* * *
TWO WEEKS LATER
A Manticore doctor walks Jesse down the long corridor towards an examination room, one she'd not been in or even seen before.
JESSE: I had a check up two days ago, why do I need another so soon?
DOCTOR: Lydecker's orders.
* * *
Jesse is escorted or rather half carried half dragged back to her 'room' by two burly soldiers, one opens the door and she's pushed inside. Alec hears her come in but keeps his eyes closed, half asleep.
ALEC: You were gone a long time...How'd it go? Not too painful was it?
A thud on the ground makes him sit up and pay attention, he looks and sees Jesse lay motionless on the floor. He helps her to the bottom bunk and lies her there.
ALEC: Not the usual check up was it?
He notices a bruise half covered on her neck and fresh wounds on her hands.
ALEC: What did they do to you?
JESSE: Unconscious...Training...
ALEC: Get some sleep...I'll get the doctor...
He turns towards the door when she grabs his hand and pulls him back.
JESSE: They won't help...There the ones who...Did this...
And then she closed her eyes.
* * *
ONE WEEK LATER
She's come back from her ''check up'' worse than usual that day, three hours earlier she'd had to be carried back to her room; her face a pale white, her lips almost blue.
JESSE: I'm getting used to this now...
ALEC: No you're not...Someone's coming!
Seconds later the door's thrust open and two soldiers come in and drag Jesse off the bed.
ALEC: What the hell do you think you're doing!
SOLDIER: Just a check up.
ALEC: These ''check ups'' are doing her more harm than good!
SOLDIER #2: Get to sleep!
He looks at Jesse to see a flicker of fear cross her eyes, the door is shut in his face as he tries to get out.
ALEC: (Shouts) Jesse!
The small door window pops open and the butt of a shot gun is slammed into his face causing him to fall back.
SOLDIER: She has no name.
* * *
Alec looks up at Max and Logan.
ALEC: That's the last time I saw her.
MAX: I can't believe you actually care about someone other than yourself.
ALEC: She was like me.
LOGAN: Only she can fill in the blanks now.
MAX: There is one other person, we just can't find him.
Max's thoughts mirrored Alec's own.
ALEC: Lydecker.
TBC
Note: Instead of having all the characters talking about Alec's past, this chapter is set four years ago.
Alec sat on the edge of the bed as he waited for the footsteps he'd heard to reach his door; two minutes later the iron door was finally pulled open and a soldier entered the room. He pushed an angry looking girl into the room; her eyes darting around surveying her new room.
ALEC: What have we here?
SOLDIER: You're new roommate.
ALEC: I wasn't aware I had an old one.
The soldier ignores his comment and steps out of the room slamming the door behind him.
ALEC: A little early for visiting hours isn't it?
She ignores him and jumps on to the top bunk.
ALEC: So, have you been told to be silent until training tomorrow or something?
She faces him with a bored expression on her oval face.
JESSE: If I had it my way I wouldn't be here at all.
ALEC: Why did you get moved in the first place?
JESSE: I don't know...Something happened to the person I was with.
ALEC: What?
JESSE: I wouldn't tell you even if I did know.
She lies down on her bunk and stares at the ceiling; they remain silent for the next ten minutes. Alec gets off his bunk and leans on hers.
JESSE: What!
ALEC: Tell me about yourself.
JESSE: Just imagine your own life and change the face, and that's me.
He smirks at her.
ALEC: I don't think so 'cos' I act completely different to the other X5's, some might say I have an attitude problem...
JESSE: We're not supposed to talk much, remember? So how could anyone say anything about you?
ALEC: Call me crazy but I don't think your that much like the other's either.
She rolls over and faces the wall, She hears him lie back down on his own bunk.
JESSE: You're crazy.
* * *
They'd been chained under water for four minutes now, one more minutes to go and this exercise would be over, then on to the next, training as usual. Jesse looks to the side and sees Alec, he turns to her and she closes her eyes lying her head in her hands as if she's falling asleep, he tries to hold back a smile. The cuffs around their legs snap open and they swim to the surface of the pool. Jesse's yanked out of the pool and is spun around to see the cloudy face of Lydecker; looming above her.
LYDECKER: I don't tolerate cockiness! Acting the fool is what will get you killed! Do you hear me?
She opens her mouth to say something, anything insolent back. Across the pool she sees Alec sake his head and she lowers her eyes before Lydecker.
JESSE: Yes sir.
LYDECKER: I can't hear you.
She speaks again louder this time.
JESSE: Yes sir!
LYDECKER: That's better; I don't want to see you acting the fool again...Dismissed.
* * *
TWO WEEKS LATER
A Manticore doctor walks Jesse down the long corridor towards an examination room, one she'd not been in or even seen before.
JESSE: I had a check up two days ago, why do I need another so soon?
DOCTOR: Lydecker's orders.
* * *
Jesse is escorted or rather half carried half dragged back to her 'room' by two burly soldiers, one opens the door and she's pushed inside. Alec hears her come in but keeps his eyes closed, half asleep.
ALEC: You were gone a long time...How'd it go? Not too painful was it?
A thud on the ground makes him sit up and pay attention, he looks and sees Jesse lay motionless on the floor. He helps her to the bottom bunk and lies her there.
ALEC: Not the usual check up was it?
He notices a bruise half covered on her neck and fresh wounds on her hands.
ALEC: What did they do to you?
JESSE: Unconscious...Training...
ALEC: Get some sleep...I'll get the doctor...
He turns towards the door when she grabs his hand and pulls him back.
JESSE: They won't help...There the ones who...Did this...
And then she closed her eyes.
* * *
ONE WEEK LATER
She's come back from her ''check up'' worse than usual that day, three hours earlier she'd had to be carried back to her room; her face a pale white, her lips almost blue.
JESSE: I'm getting used to this now...
ALEC: No you're not...Someone's coming!
Seconds later the door's thrust open and two soldiers come in and drag Jesse off the bed.
ALEC: What the hell do you think you're doing!
SOLDIER: Just a check up.
ALEC: These ''check ups'' are doing her more harm than good!
SOLDIER #2: Get to sleep!
He looks at Jesse to see a flicker of fear cross her eyes, the door is shut in his face as he tries to get out.
ALEC: (Shouts) Jesse!
The small door window pops open and the butt of a shot gun is slammed into his face causing him to fall back.
SOLDIER: She has no name.
* * *
Alec looks up at Max and Logan.
ALEC: That's the last time I saw her.
MAX: I can't believe you actually care about someone other than yourself.
ALEC: She was like me.
LOGAN: Only she can fill in the blanks now.
MAX: There is one other person, we just can't find him.
Max's thoughts mirrored Alec's own.
ALEC: Lydecker.
TBC