Spoilers: This is the third in my series of stories. The first
was Shattered Trusts and Whispered Confessions. The second,
which I only just finished, is Remembering to Forget. This
series is set after Hello Goodbye but does reveal spoilers from
the rest of the season, as I incorporate it into the story.
Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine except for some minors. The ideas are pretty much mine though but I just want to say thanks to those who have reviewed my previous works, it keeps me writing!
Authors Note: If you really want to understand this story and enjoy it, then be sure to read the original parts one and two.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER EIGHT:
Max peered at him, peeling back the hair plastered on her face. Alec looked as though he hadn't even noticed it was raining. He stood, blinking at her, and she couldn't tell if she was crying or if it was just the stinging downpour.
"I'm not keeping any secrets."
"You know what, I never expected you to stop loving him. When you love someone, a part of it stays with you forever. But we weren't designed to be suckers Max, I wont be a substitute."
"Is that what you think? You're not!"
"So I'm just the rebound guy then?"
"No! You're mine, my lover. My everything...I don't love him, I just miss parts of what we had. The familiarity of it all. Especially our ability to talk things over, to share. I love him as the friend I once had, but in dwelling, I realise he wasn't that at all, all along he was a traitor that had me fooled."
She broke off, panting wildly, her dark hair sticking out all over the place as the rain lightened. She smoothened it with her hands, trying to compose her nerves at the same time. Alec felt his heart writhe with guilt, he had upset her when all along he should have told her the stupid stuff that had started this, instead of grilling her about an ex that was out of their lives forever. He moved over to her as she sniffed loudly again,
"I'm sorry Maxie. I didn't mean to raise all that crap. I know he's gone. I just...I guess I'm not as secure as I thought."
She glared at him, planting her hands firmly on his chest and shoving him roughly,
"You jerk!"
She shoved him again,
"You moron!"
She pushed him again and he stumbled back, tripping over a rock into a puddle. Water splashed everywhere and his already tight, wet top went from a gleaming white to a sludgy brown. Max burst out laughing, anger forgotten. He looked so helpless just lying there, all dirty and soaked. She offered him a hand and before she knew it, she was lying next to him, her jeans completely drenched.
"So much for X5 reflexes."
"You pulled me into the water!"
"Well if we're playing the blame game, you pushed me into the water first!"
He leaned over, draping an arm around her shoulder, kissing it in the process,
"You know how the army has ranks? Well any military force..."
"Yeah, where is this going?"
"See, I wasn't just the CO of my unit, the superior unit, but I was also second chair to the Colonel."
"What does that mean?"
"I was his right hand man. Even after the whole Rachel deal, I was still there. Just after a lot of Psy-Ops, reindoctrination - the works. I just wasn't dedicated anymore; I had lost my love of the life. My love of being a soldier. But I still held my position in the chain of command. That was what Dix meant. How could they not have known me, I was in charge. Of everyone but Lydecker and Renfro themselves."
Max tilted into his hold, his arm warming her from the chilling wind and icy rain,
"So you were important huh?"
"Oh yeah baby, you're sleeping with success."
Alec laughed, pulling her closer and kissing her briefly on the lips,
"I'm sorry?"
"Me too. No more secrets - okay?"
She closed her eyes, happy just to feel him there with her. Alec sat with his arm around her, staring off into space with a feeling he just couldn't describe.
"Alec?"
"Mmm?"
"I love you."
He turned to look down at her in shock, he had just yelled at her, pulled her into dirty water and accused her of all sorts of crap he wouldn't have ever used to be able to get away with.
Max stared up at him, his silence disturbing her; did it mean that he didn't feel the same way she did? It would kill her if he didn't, but she could survive as long as they stayed together, she would really die if he left her.
"Max...I..."
Biggs sticking his head around the doorway and grinning cheekily at them interrupted him,
"Glad to see the two of you are still alive. And all dirty too. Well if you've finished mud wrestling, come in - Luke wants to photograph the rest of your runes, both of you."
Max glanced at Alec, who was staring down miserably at his shoes. She pecked him on the cheek and made her way inside, followed by Biggs who was discretely trying not to laugh at her dirty appearance,
"We'll find you something to dry off with."
Alec looked up to realise they were both gone inside again,
"I love you too."
* * * * *
Max looked up as Alec came into the building brandishing boxes of pizza,
"Figured you guys were hungry. Gather round, I've got most of them here."
"That was nice of you sweetie."
"What can I say, I'm a nice guy."
He pulled off his top and sat down next to her, letting Luke examine his runes as well as hers. Max turned to smile at him,
"I missed you."
"Awwww...that's just so sweet! I wasn't gone that long, an hour tops. And I came baring gifts. Tasty ones at that. But I missed you too. Do you remember the last time we were here?"
"Yeah. Us together. I like that."
* * * * * Flashback:
Alec looked over at Max, curious as to what she was saying,
"Why? What's--what's Terminal City?"
"Come on. I'll show you."
Max and Alec approached a fence that had a sign on it, saying:
"BIOHAZARD--DO NOT ENTER--BY ORDER OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE."
They stepped through a broken part of the fence and as usual, he had to comment,
"What's the deal with this place?"
"Used to be a bunch of biotech labs out here, and then when the Pulse hit, the power went down. A few of them lost containment. Some pretty nasty stuff got out."
"Kinda like you and me, huh?"
They walked past some broken-down buildings.
"City couldn't afford to clean up the mess, so they just sealed off the area. Nobody goes out here unless they got nowhere else to go and nothing to lose."
"Lucky thing they made us immune to your common bio-warfare agents. Hey, speaking of bio-agents, how's that thingy with you and Logan? (Max gave him a look.) I was just asking."
* * * * *
"So what's up with this place?"
Alec directed this comment to Mole, who was seated next to him, polishing a very attractive P-90. He looked up at him with a cigar smouldering between his teeth,
"It's Disneyland - what do you think!"
"No, I meant who's in charge; what sort of system do you guys operate under? How is this place organised?"
"This isn't Manticore soldier boy. We don't operate like that. This is simply a closed off site that served as a shelter. What X's and the rest do is their choice."
"And that's the sort of thing that will lead to anarchy or worse, everyone getting killed. Exposure."
Mole rubbed his scaly chin, looking at Alec thoughtfully,
"Well enlighten me, oh wise one. What did you have in mind?"
Alec stood, surveying the room. Biggs flashed him a reassuring thumbs up and it dawned on him that this felt so right, to be here with his own kind, using his training for the purpose of good. Or at least the lesser of two evils, he thought with a chuckle.
"Some basic essentials. This is 20 blocks of abandoned land and buildings. Designate living quarters to each series, set up a hospital, and supply building, weapons, and food - whatever necessary. Get the whole place wired up so that each building has electricity and hot water."
Everyone in the room fell silent with awe. Max felt a surge of pride, what he had suggested may have been a reach, but it was what was essential for their kind's ultimate survival. She gave him a supportive smile as he continued,
"You'll need to complete hooking up the computer and television feeds - and post sentries. You really should keep an eye on who leaves and enters the city. You don't want any ordinaries or cult loonies lurking where they're not wanted. I have some connections that can help out in gathering some stuff needed. I just have to drum up some money, make a few scores."
Mole looked at him again, his eyes dark and unreadable,
"What make you think we'll follow your orders?"
"Nothing. They're just suggestions."
"Well I like them. Especially the part about no ordinaries - should all be killed if you asked me, little shits. Music to my ears."
He sniffed and wiped at fake tears, his gleaming prized gun left forgotten on his chair. Dix looked up from behind a computer,
"Will you do it? Will you help us make this place better?"
Alec glanced at Biggs, then Max - both of them nodded back at him,
"You bet. First thing you should do after you set up the computers is establish a database detailing every transgenic residing in this place - everything from their barcode to the colour of their underwear. The more info - the better. You guys hear on the news about the thermal scans being used to track down and detect transgenics? I should be able to get my hands on one, courtesy of some persuadable police officer. That should stop any unwanted's coming in, pretending to be one of us. Hopefully. Am I getting too crazy with this or going too fast?"
A chorus of 'no's' circled around the room and Alec panned his gaze in following,
"You say there is more and more transgenics entering the city each day."
"Yeah..."
Joshua sprayed crumbs everywhere as he answered his friend,
"They're rising steadily. Already a few hundred."
"Right. That's not a small amount - that's an army. That word is intimidating enough to people opposing us, let alone an army of transgenics created for the very purpose of being soldiers. We build this city up, nobody will be able to knock it down. And I'd like to see if anyone even tries. We could make it not just a residence, but a home. Forget TC standing for Terminal City, make it Transgenic Central."
Dix stood up to join Alec,
"Transgenic Community."
"Trailblazing Chimera.",
Biggs chimed in as he stood too. Mole rolled his eyes as he stood,
"Oh brother. Why don't we skip the word games and get started already?"
Alec flashed him a grin,
"Lets do it."
Mole stared at him, a delighted grin etching onto his face, instead of the usual sneer,
'Well what are you waiting for? We need our CO to give out the orders."
"I thought you didn't take orders from anyone."
"I don't."
"Then why should I expect you to listen to me?"
"You're not just anyone."
* * * * *
To be continued...
Author's Note:
I wrote this one on the bus on my way to work. Just typed it up, so it really is hot off the presses. Thanks to those who have taken the time to review, it really does mean a lot to me. And by the by, does anyone know where I can get a Freak Nation transcript, I need to clarify a few lines. If so, it would be a lot of help! Thanks and stay tuned...
Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine except for some minors. The ideas are pretty much mine though but I just want to say thanks to those who have reviewed my previous works, it keeps me writing!
Authors Note: If you really want to understand this story and enjoy it, then be sure to read the original parts one and two.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER EIGHT:
Max peered at him, peeling back the hair plastered on her face. Alec looked as though he hadn't even noticed it was raining. He stood, blinking at her, and she couldn't tell if she was crying or if it was just the stinging downpour.
"I'm not keeping any secrets."
"You know what, I never expected you to stop loving him. When you love someone, a part of it stays with you forever. But we weren't designed to be suckers Max, I wont be a substitute."
"Is that what you think? You're not!"
"So I'm just the rebound guy then?"
"No! You're mine, my lover. My everything...I don't love him, I just miss parts of what we had. The familiarity of it all. Especially our ability to talk things over, to share. I love him as the friend I once had, but in dwelling, I realise he wasn't that at all, all along he was a traitor that had me fooled."
She broke off, panting wildly, her dark hair sticking out all over the place as the rain lightened. She smoothened it with her hands, trying to compose her nerves at the same time. Alec felt his heart writhe with guilt, he had upset her when all along he should have told her the stupid stuff that had started this, instead of grilling her about an ex that was out of their lives forever. He moved over to her as she sniffed loudly again,
"I'm sorry Maxie. I didn't mean to raise all that crap. I know he's gone. I just...I guess I'm not as secure as I thought."
She glared at him, planting her hands firmly on his chest and shoving him roughly,
"You jerk!"
She shoved him again,
"You moron!"
She pushed him again and he stumbled back, tripping over a rock into a puddle. Water splashed everywhere and his already tight, wet top went from a gleaming white to a sludgy brown. Max burst out laughing, anger forgotten. He looked so helpless just lying there, all dirty and soaked. She offered him a hand and before she knew it, she was lying next to him, her jeans completely drenched.
"So much for X5 reflexes."
"You pulled me into the water!"
"Well if we're playing the blame game, you pushed me into the water first!"
He leaned over, draping an arm around her shoulder, kissing it in the process,
"You know how the army has ranks? Well any military force..."
"Yeah, where is this going?"
"See, I wasn't just the CO of my unit, the superior unit, but I was also second chair to the Colonel."
"What does that mean?"
"I was his right hand man. Even after the whole Rachel deal, I was still there. Just after a lot of Psy-Ops, reindoctrination - the works. I just wasn't dedicated anymore; I had lost my love of the life. My love of being a soldier. But I still held my position in the chain of command. That was what Dix meant. How could they not have known me, I was in charge. Of everyone but Lydecker and Renfro themselves."
Max tilted into his hold, his arm warming her from the chilling wind and icy rain,
"So you were important huh?"
"Oh yeah baby, you're sleeping with success."
Alec laughed, pulling her closer and kissing her briefly on the lips,
"I'm sorry?"
"Me too. No more secrets - okay?"
She closed her eyes, happy just to feel him there with her. Alec sat with his arm around her, staring off into space with a feeling he just couldn't describe.
"Alec?"
"Mmm?"
"I love you."
He turned to look down at her in shock, he had just yelled at her, pulled her into dirty water and accused her of all sorts of crap he wouldn't have ever used to be able to get away with.
Max stared up at him, his silence disturbing her; did it mean that he didn't feel the same way she did? It would kill her if he didn't, but she could survive as long as they stayed together, she would really die if he left her.
"Max...I..."
Biggs sticking his head around the doorway and grinning cheekily at them interrupted him,
"Glad to see the two of you are still alive. And all dirty too. Well if you've finished mud wrestling, come in - Luke wants to photograph the rest of your runes, both of you."
Max glanced at Alec, who was staring down miserably at his shoes. She pecked him on the cheek and made her way inside, followed by Biggs who was discretely trying not to laugh at her dirty appearance,
"We'll find you something to dry off with."
Alec looked up to realise they were both gone inside again,
"I love you too."
* * * * *
Max looked up as Alec came into the building brandishing boxes of pizza,
"Figured you guys were hungry. Gather round, I've got most of them here."
"That was nice of you sweetie."
"What can I say, I'm a nice guy."
He pulled off his top and sat down next to her, letting Luke examine his runes as well as hers. Max turned to smile at him,
"I missed you."
"Awwww...that's just so sweet! I wasn't gone that long, an hour tops. And I came baring gifts. Tasty ones at that. But I missed you too. Do you remember the last time we were here?"
"Yeah. Us together. I like that."
* * * * * Flashback:
Alec looked over at Max, curious as to what she was saying,
"Why? What's--what's Terminal City?"
"Come on. I'll show you."
Max and Alec approached a fence that had a sign on it, saying:
"BIOHAZARD--DO NOT ENTER--BY ORDER OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE."
They stepped through a broken part of the fence and as usual, he had to comment,
"What's the deal with this place?"
"Used to be a bunch of biotech labs out here, and then when the Pulse hit, the power went down. A few of them lost containment. Some pretty nasty stuff got out."
"Kinda like you and me, huh?"
They walked past some broken-down buildings.
"City couldn't afford to clean up the mess, so they just sealed off the area. Nobody goes out here unless they got nowhere else to go and nothing to lose."
"Lucky thing they made us immune to your common bio-warfare agents. Hey, speaking of bio-agents, how's that thingy with you and Logan? (Max gave him a look.) I was just asking."
* * * * *
"So what's up with this place?"
Alec directed this comment to Mole, who was seated next to him, polishing a very attractive P-90. He looked up at him with a cigar smouldering between his teeth,
"It's Disneyland - what do you think!"
"No, I meant who's in charge; what sort of system do you guys operate under? How is this place organised?"
"This isn't Manticore soldier boy. We don't operate like that. This is simply a closed off site that served as a shelter. What X's and the rest do is their choice."
"And that's the sort of thing that will lead to anarchy or worse, everyone getting killed. Exposure."
Mole rubbed his scaly chin, looking at Alec thoughtfully,
"Well enlighten me, oh wise one. What did you have in mind?"
Alec stood, surveying the room. Biggs flashed him a reassuring thumbs up and it dawned on him that this felt so right, to be here with his own kind, using his training for the purpose of good. Or at least the lesser of two evils, he thought with a chuckle.
"Some basic essentials. This is 20 blocks of abandoned land and buildings. Designate living quarters to each series, set up a hospital, and supply building, weapons, and food - whatever necessary. Get the whole place wired up so that each building has electricity and hot water."
Everyone in the room fell silent with awe. Max felt a surge of pride, what he had suggested may have been a reach, but it was what was essential for their kind's ultimate survival. She gave him a supportive smile as he continued,
"You'll need to complete hooking up the computer and television feeds - and post sentries. You really should keep an eye on who leaves and enters the city. You don't want any ordinaries or cult loonies lurking where they're not wanted. I have some connections that can help out in gathering some stuff needed. I just have to drum up some money, make a few scores."
Mole looked at him again, his eyes dark and unreadable,
"What make you think we'll follow your orders?"
"Nothing. They're just suggestions."
"Well I like them. Especially the part about no ordinaries - should all be killed if you asked me, little shits. Music to my ears."
He sniffed and wiped at fake tears, his gleaming prized gun left forgotten on his chair. Dix looked up from behind a computer,
"Will you do it? Will you help us make this place better?"
Alec glanced at Biggs, then Max - both of them nodded back at him,
"You bet. First thing you should do after you set up the computers is establish a database detailing every transgenic residing in this place - everything from their barcode to the colour of their underwear. The more info - the better. You guys hear on the news about the thermal scans being used to track down and detect transgenics? I should be able to get my hands on one, courtesy of some persuadable police officer. That should stop any unwanted's coming in, pretending to be one of us. Hopefully. Am I getting too crazy with this or going too fast?"
A chorus of 'no's' circled around the room and Alec panned his gaze in following,
"You say there is more and more transgenics entering the city each day."
"Yeah..."
Joshua sprayed crumbs everywhere as he answered his friend,
"They're rising steadily. Already a few hundred."
"Right. That's not a small amount - that's an army. That word is intimidating enough to people opposing us, let alone an army of transgenics created for the very purpose of being soldiers. We build this city up, nobody will be able to knock it down. And I'd like to see if anyone even tries. We could make it not just a residence, but a home. Forget TC standing for Terminal City, make it Transgenic Central."
Dix stood up to join Alec,
"Transgenic Community."
"Trailblazing Chimera.",
Biggs chimed in as he stood too. Mole rolled his eyes as he stood,
"Oh brother. Why don't we skip the word games and get started already?"
Alec flashed him a grin,
"Lets do it."
Mole stared at him, a delighted grin etching onto his face, instead of the usual sneer,
'Well what are you waiting for? We need our CO to give out the orders."
"I thought you didn't take orders from anyone."
"I don't."
"Then why should I expect you to listen to me?"
"You're not just anyone."
* * * * *
To be continued...
Author's Note:
I wrote this one on the bus on my way to work. Just typed it up, so it really is hot off the presses. Thanks to those who have taken the time to review, it really does mean a lot to me. And by the by, does anyone know where I can get a Freak Nation transcript, I need to clarify a few lines. If so, it would be a lot of help! Thanks and stay tuned...