Chapter Fifteen: The Greatest Sacrifice
Risika stared at the files, in anger and in horror as she tried to make sense of what information lay inside them. With the designations X5-417, X5-766, X5-656, X5-493 and X5-734, scrawled all over the sheets, Risika snarled angrily, recognizing instantly the barcode designations of her deceased and otherwise compromised siblings. In great detail, in Renfro's cold tone, she described the treatment of Jack and Eva's death at the hands of Lydecker. Even back then, Renfro's tone betrayed her contempt of Lydecker, and her distrust in him, citing weakness when it came to his 'kids'. Risika's anger continued to rise, as she read Renfro's reports to the committee on Ben's sanity, or lack thereof, and his death, and the successful reindoctorination of Brin. Renfro repeatedly gloated in her reports, that she now had a weapon to use against the rogue X5's, and that she'd have them all recaptured and reindoctorinated in less than a year. Renfro expressed false sympathy to the Committee, about the Tinga's death, and that she regretted the fact that X5-656, would not be able to join her sister, 734, as a soldier of Manticore. Risika's eyes narrowed into pints of fire, as she read the expressions of regret that Renfro had typed on the page to the Committee. 'Bitch', she fumed, 'Bitch, you wanted Tinga to die! Bitch, you WILL pay for this!!' Risika's rage grew as she flipped almost frantically through the files, searching for any information that could be vital to their current plan of destruction against Manticore.
Ty ran in just then, having destroyed the generators without any complications. Time was running short however, as they only had another three minutes before retreating and meeting up with the others at the rendezvous point. Ty ran up to his sister, concerned about the information that she held in her hands. Risika's fury hit its boiling point, and she threw the papers at her brother, before running at breakneck speed out of the room. Ty followed, wondering what it was that got his sister so pissed off, that is until his own eyes landed on the page his sister had been reading. Ty's anger began to spark as he read the page, horrified, yet loathing a certain 'pod squad' that they had previously been allies with. The page was a letter from Renfro to…………………Tess.
My dearest Tessa,
You've been like a daughter to me, ever since Nasedo decided to put you under his care. And as your supposed 'mother figure' it is my job, to teach you right. You've been a good girl, listening to Nasedo, and following through with your destiny. That's not, what's at stake here, however. Tessa, I need you to obtain some information for me. Do you remember how you used to visit me at the compound facility for Manticore in Seattle?? And do you remember the group of X5's that you used to see marching up and down the hallways?? I need you to track down two of that particular X5 group; they're a part of the twelve rogues that escaped that night in '09. I don't know what they look like, as it's been eleven years since they walked our halls. Their barcode numbers X5-595, and X5-636. Rumor has it that they're living in Roswell, although we have yet to receive confirmed proof that 595 and 636, do in fact live in Roswell, and have been for the last eleven years. I also need you to kill someone close to the infamous 'pod squad', as they call themselves. I personally think that it must be that Alex Whitman character. He's already suspicious of you Tessa; it won't be long before he discovers Manticore. We can't allow that to happen, it's risky enough having our operations shielded from the government. He needs to be dealt with as soon as possible, and his body must be disposed of quickly. You can't, and I repeat you can't let these people pick up a trail behind you Tessa; a good soldier will always follow orders, and never leave a trail. I know I'm asking a lot from you Tessa, but this is to prepare you for your ultimate role as a leader. You will need these skills to survive, and the alliance that Nasedo and I formed, several years before he found you inside the pod chamber, won't be able to help you. It's risky enough as it is, having an alliance now. The Committee will deem me a traitor if they discover our relationship, and as for you and Nasedo, you will end up in the hands of the government. I don't want that to happen to you, Tessa, you are like a daughter to me after all, and as a daughter, you must listen to your mother. There's one last request that I have for you. Do you remember X5-599, the commanding officer of the group of rogue X5's who escaped?? He goes by the name Zack now, I believe, and I'm sure you've seen around Roswell these past few days, as we have had confirmed reports that 599 is indeed in the area. I want you to listen in on their plans, and report back to me on them. I would also like for you to maintain anonymity in your, how should we say it, spying perhaps, in that 599 does not notice your presence. He must not be suspicious, Tessa, please do these things as a final favor to me, your mother.
All my Love,
Your Mother, Elizabeth Renfro
Ty ripped the letter to shreds in shock, and in fury. "Holy Fuck," he yelled as he ran down the hall after his sister, "that fucking bitch is going to pay!!" Risika whipped her head around to face her brother, he face a mask of boiling fury and hatred, both for Renfro, and the traitorous bitch of whom Renfro called a daughter, who killed her best friend. "Don't worry little brother, you'll get a piece. But she's mine; I want to be the one to kill her." Every word that came out of Risika's mouth was filled with venom, and she thought of the delicious pain that she would inflict on the team of bitches, who ruined everything for her and her family. Suddenly Logan's voice cracked over the ear piece. "Guys, you have security personnel closing in on the outside perimeter, I think someone tipped them off." "Yeah, I'd second that," Ty muttered, totally infuriated, but managing to control his temper, with the cool exterior of a soldier that he had been taught to be. Risika and Ty made it out to the rendezvous point, where they met up with Krit and Syl. The siblings congratulated each other for the successful destruction of the DNA lab, until they noticed that two members were missing. Risika swallowed hard, noticing the absence of her baby sister, as well as her lover. Walking towards her former commander, one of whom they had always feared as children, and hated now as adults, Risika knew that this would be the day that the reign of terror that Colonel Donald Lydecker held over his 'kids' would finally be over. In an overly calm voice, she asked him, "Where's Max and Zack??" Lydecker turned to face her with the familiar gleam of pity in his eyes. "K.I.A." he replied. The world suddenly seemed to spin out of control, and Risika pulled out her gun, and shot Lydecker, point blank between the eyes.
Zack and Max were rushed to the operating room in Manticore's left wing. Renfro followed close behind, gloating that she had two of the best X5's within her grasp, and thinking of ways that she could reward her 'daughter' for her valuable information. Zack struggled against the doctors has they tried to get him to lie still on the bed. He screamed when he saw them wheeling his seemingly motionless baby sister into the room. Zack broke free of the doctors, before grabbing a hold on a gun on the table nearby. The doctors worked frantically on Max, but the ringing of buzzer made them stop. "It's not working," one of the doctors said desperately, "Her right ventricle's collapsed." Zack pointed the gun straight at the doctor's head. "Fix her!!" the words came out of Zack's mouth in a harsh growl. The doctor looked scared, but motioned helplessly to Max's motionless body lying on the table. "She needs a transplant." Zack grabbed Renfro and held the muzzle up to her ear. "Then transplant her." Renfro's lips twisted into a condescending smile. Almost sweetly, she purred, "But she's an X5. And she needs an X5 heart." Zack let go for Renfro, before stepping over to his baby sister's bedside. Although he pleaded with her to fight, to wake up, to live again, Zack knew what he had to do. This was his chance, his chance to protect his siblings, the thing that he was meant to do all along. The past two years had been hell, even more so than the rest of his life. Since Jessica, the love of his life, died, Zack ached all the time and he felt like he was dying inside. This was the only way he could see to end his suffering, and to save the life of his baby sister. It was the last thing he could do for any of them. He closed his eyes briefly at the thought of Risika. Although he loved her, it was nothing compared to the love he felt for Jessica. The love he would always feel for her. He hoped that Risika and the rest of his siblings would find some way to forgive for what he was about to do. He wished that there was some other way, but he couldn't see it. However selfish it was for him, he knew that the agony in his heart would leave, and he would see his love again, after being separated for so long. Carefully he positioned the gun over his right temple. 'Risika, beautiful Risa, I hope you can find a way to forgive me for this. Be strong little sister.' 'Jess, baby, I'm coming to be with you for eternity. I love you baby, I'm coming for you.'
*BANG*
tbc………………………………