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. Also, just wanted to say that yeah the story has got quite complicated and hence a little confusion from me let alone you guys who have no idea what is going on in my twisted mind. Thanks for sticking by me when I've been doing this. It's nice to know I have a loyal following.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT:
Seattle; Terminal City; October 22nd 2022
2300 hours
Alec yawned lightly as he stared up at the television hoisted from the ceiling in HQ. He flicked onto the news, stopping as the report on the screen caught his attention. He made a shushing noise and raised the volume,
"...The death toll has risen to 32 and appears to be rising rapidly. This mysterious virus has been said to be the worse of any spread of disease, far surpassing such predecessors as the black plague and meningococcal. Authorities and medical experts are clueless as to the origins of the virus or how it can be contracted. Seattle has been closed off by the CDC as a biohazard, no one is able to enter or leave the city until more is known regarding this..."
He turned to face Luke, his green eyes wild and frightened,
"It's here!"
* * * * *
2355 hours
"Alec its madness - suicide."
"Luke, get out of my way."
"No, I can't let you just go out there and confront the familiars on your own."
"I die, it ends. I have to go."
"Your signing your own death certificate!"
"So be it, I have to do this, I was made to."
"Then I'm coming with you."
"You're logistics, you cant fight them. That is suicide."
"You just cant..."
"I can and I am. Thanks for everything Luke, I never would have made it this far without you."
Alec clapped Luke on the back softly and shrugged into a black turtleneck sweater. He brushed crumbs off his black pants and pulled on a thick vest over the top of his ensemble,
"So where is my final destination Luke, I know you have an idea how this is being spread."
"Alec..."
"C'mon, you know you want to do the honourable thing and save the humans - even if they hate us, its what we were born to do, protect our country and its citizens. Where am I going?"
Luke sniffed, trying not to show any emotion,
"They... the water supply. I think they've put some snake blood into the main water tank down at the government waterworks plant. Germs multiply faster in water. People are drinking it and getting sick."
"But not everyone is getting sick."
"Since the pulse, most try not to drink tap water. But I figure that they will all start to because there was that Evian plant that blew up last week. Without anyone entering the city, no water except from the tap will be available. Anyways, they mightn't have tampered with the supply yet. The familiars probably wanted to create public outcry first, so they went and injected a few dozen people."
"Luke, what can I say? You're a genius!"
Alec grinned at him as he pocketed a gun and tazer. He raised his eyebrows at his glum friend,
"Thanks for everything. I mean it. Until I get back - if I get back - you're in charge around here okay?"
"Yeah."
"Just keep making me proud."
"You're a good friend Alec and a good person. Not many people would risk their lives to save the world."
"Just keeping the fates happy."
"Any messages for anyone?"
"No... Yeah. Tell Max... Tell Max that I'm sorry."
"You can tell her yourself when you come back. But if you don't, then I will. But you will be back."
Alec nodded, handing him a sealed envelope,
"Thanks. And hey, I wrote this letter for her too."
"I'll make sure she gets it."
"Thanks Luke, you're a good man."
He looked up to respond, but Alec was gone - perhaps forever.
* * * * *
0010 hours
Max had never run so fast in her entire life; her superhuman speed fuelled mainly by fear and adrenaline - a deadly combination. She ran through the dismal streets of Terminal City, gasping for breath as she burst through the doors into headquarters. Luke lifted his head in surprise at her, shooting a questioning look,
"What... Max, are you okay?"
She whirled around to face him, her eyes wild and scared. Luke stood up, hands reaching out to steady her by the shoulders,
"What is it?"
Max shook him off, swallowing - her answer coming after a long pause, shaky and timid. Gone was any hope she may have had left,
"It's worse than anything we ever suspected. It's the end of the world."
She watched as his face drooped slightly, his eyes downcast and resigned,
"I know." * * * * *
"What do you mean you know?"
Max demanded loudly, startled that he seemed although sad, quite eerily calm.
"We saw the report on the news about the mystery virus."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"It didn't cross my mind. Things are kinda hectic around here at the moment."
"Why, where is everyone?"
"Alec ordered that the completion of the hospital be our top priority, then the database and then the barracks - err apartments."
"I thought all of that was done. The hospital was the first thing we set up."
"Its all shoddy. We need better. I've got every transgenic helping out with the renovations, but also donating blood and stuff like that."
"Why the sudden rush to do all this?"
"Alec left a list of priorities, we're just trying to work our way through them."
"Oh..."
Max nodded her understanding, before silently pondering what Luke had said. She reeled, doing a double take,
"Did you just say... where is Alec?"
"Around."
"Around where?"
The anomaly shifted uncomfortably under her intense stare, breaking it to examine his feet.
"Where is he Luke?"
"I can't say."
"Why not?"
"Because you'll get angry and go after him. And then he'll get angry and come after me."
"He could be in trouble. If he's doing something he knows will make me angry, then it has to be something stupid or dangerous. Or both. He might need my help."
Luke hesitated; she really did have a valid point. But Alec was going to be so mad if he told Max. Then again, mad was better than dead.
"He left TC about 15 minutes ago."
"To where?"
"The Government waterworks plant."
"Why the hell did he go there?"
"Because that's where we figured the Conclave of familiars is."
"He can't possibly be going to fight them all on his own - even Alec's not that stupid!"
"No, he's that brave. He's that selfless. All he wants is for this to be over. He's willing to sacrifice his own life for that. He's choosing his side that he is fighting for."
"I gotta go... I have to go save his ass - again."
"Max..."
Luke's warning tone came too late, his eyes barely registering her blurring figure speed out of the refuge, perhaps to a fate ending in tragedy.
* * * * *
Author's Note:
Thanks so much to all the loyal readers who have been so great posting reviews and keeping me motivated. All the comments have been so encouraging and I really thank all of you guys for all your support! Keep them coming and I'll keep writing.
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. Also, just wanted to say that yeah the story has got quite complicated and hence a little confusion from me let alone you guys who have no idea what is going on in my twisted mind. Thanks for sticking by me when I've been doing this. It's nice to know I have a loyal following.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT:
Seattle; Terminal City; October 22nd 2022
2300 hours
Alec yawned lightly as he stared up at the television hoisted from the ceiling in HQ. He flicked onto the news, stopping as the report on the screen caught his attention. He made a shushing noise and raised the volume,
"...The death toll has risen to 32 and appears to be rising rapidly. This mysterious virus has been said to be the worse of any spread of disease, far surpassing such predecessors as the black plague and meningococcal. Authorities and medical experts are clueless as to the origins of the virus or how it can be contracted. Seattle has been closed off by the CDC as a biohazard, no one is able to enter or leave the city until more is known regarding this..."
He turned to face Luke, his green eyes wild and frightened,
"It's here!"
* * * * *
2355 hours
"Alec its madness - suicide."
"Luke, get out of my way."
"No, I can't let you just go out there and confront the familiars on your own."
"I die, it ends. I have to go."
"Your signing your own death certificate!"
"So be it, I have to do this, I was made to."
"Then I'm coming with you."
"You're logistics, you cant fight them. That is suicide."
"You just cant..."
"I can and I am. Thanks for everything Luke, I never would have made it this far without you."
Alec clapped Luke on the back softly and shrugged into a black turtleneck sweater. He brushed crumbs off his black pants and pulled on a thick vest over the top of his ensemble,
"So where is my final destination Luke, I know you have an idea how this is being spread."
"Alec..."
"C'mon, you know you want to do the honourable thing and save the humans - even if they hate us, its what we were born to do, protect our country and its citizens. Where am I going?"
Luke sniffed, trying not to show any emotion,
"They... the water supply. I think they've put some snake blood into the main water tank down at the government waterworks plant. Germs multiply faster in water. People are drinking it and getting sick."
"But not everyone is getting sick."
"Since the pulse, most try not to drink tap water. But I figure that they will all start to because there was that Evian plant that blew up last week. Without anyone entering the city, no water except from the tap will be available. Anyways, they mightn't have tampered with the supply yet. The familiars probably wanted to create public outcry first, so they went and injected a few dozen people."
"Luke, what can I say? You're a genius!"
Alec grinned at him as he pocketed a gun and tazer. He raised his eyebrows at his glum friend,
"Thanks for everything. I mean it. Until I get back - if I get back - you're in charge around here okay?"
"Yeah."
"Just keep making me proud."
"You're a good friend Alec and a good person. Not many people would risk their lives to save the world."
"Just keeping the fates happy."
"Any messages for anyone?"
"No... Yeah. Tell Max... Tell Max that I'm sorry."
"You can tell her yourself when you come back. But if you don't, then I will. But you will be back."
Alec nodded, handing him a sealed envelope,
"Thanks. And hey, I wrote this letter for her too."
"I'll make sure she gets it."
"Thanks Luke, you're a good man."
He looked up to respond, but Alec was gone - perhaps forever.
* * * * *
0010 hours
Max had never run so fast in her entire life; her superhuman speed fuelled mainly by fear and adrenaline - a deadly combination. She ran through the dismal streets of Terminal City, gasping for breath as she burst through the doors into headquarters. Luke lifted his head in surprise at her, shooting a questioning look,
"What... Max, are you okay?"
She whirled around to face him, her eyes wild and scared. Luke stood up, hands reaching out to steady her by the shoulders,
"What is it?"
Max shook him off, swallowing - her answer coming after a long pause, shaky and timid. Gone was any hope she may have had left,
"It's worse than anything we ever suspected. It's the end of the world."
She watched as his face drooped slightly, his eyes downcast and resigned,
"I know." * * * * *
"What do you mean you know?"
Max demanded loudly, startled that he seemed although sad, quite eerily calm.
"We saw the report on the news about the mystery virus."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"It didn't cross my mind. Things are kinda hectic around here at the moment."
"Why, where is everyone?"
"Alec ordered that the completion of the hospital be our top priority, then the database and then the barracks - err apartments."
"I thought all of that was done. The hospital was the first thing we set up."
"Its all shoddy. We need better. I've got every transgenic helping out with the renovations, but also donating blood and stuff like that."
"Why the sudden rush to do all this?"
"Alec left a list of priorities, we're just trying to work our way through them."
"Oh..."
Max nodded her understanding, before silently pondering what Luke had said. She reeled, doing a double take,
"Did you just say... where is Alec?"
"Around."
"Around where?"
The anomaly shifted uncomfortably under her intense stare, breaking it to examine his feet.
"Where is he Luke?"
"I can't say."
"Why not?"
"Because you'll get angry and go after him. And then he'll get angry and come after me."
"He could be in trouble. If he's doing something he knows will make me angry, then it has to be something stupid or dangerous. Or both. He might need my help."
Luke hesitated; she really did have a valid point. But Alec was going to be so mad if he told Max. Then again, mad was better than dead.
"He left TC about 15 minutes ago."
"To where?"
"The Government waterworks plant."
"Why the hell did he go there?"
"Because that's where we figured the Conclave of familiars is."
"He can't possibly be going to fight them all on his own - even Alec's not that stupid!"
"No, he's that brave. He's that selfless. All he wants is for this to be over. He's willing to sacrifice his own life for that. He's choosing his side that he is fighting for."
"I gotta go... I have to go save his ass - again."
"Max..."
Luke's warning tone came too late, his eyes barely registering her blurring figure speed out of the refuge, perhaps to a fate ending in tragedy.
* * * * *
Author's Note:
Thanks so much to all the loyal readers who have been so great posting reviews and keeping me motivated. All the comments have been so encouraging and I really thank all of you guys for all your support! Keep them coming and I'll keep writing.