Hey guys. Thanks for the reviews! I felt really bad when Auroris reviewed. By then I had totally planned on updating but I didn't have anything wriiten! Curse writer's block!

By the way, I love you guys! You keep me happy!



After showing the Familiar the exit, with a few bruises on the way, they decided to reconvene in the same barren room.

Logan and Joshua joined the previous transgenics to discuss the situation, though, it was being discussed rather loudly.

"You know what this means, don't you?" Mole addressed Max.

"It means war," Wil answered for her.

"Damn straight it does. I think it's about time we launched an full-blown assault-"

"On who? Where?" Alec interrupted Mole. "White and his nutty friends are spread out all over the world. There's no one place we could hit hard enough to matter."

"They'll attack, though," Logan spoke up. "White seems bent on killing transgenics. I'm sure the others want all of you dead just as much as him." His eyes flicked to Alec. "Especially Alec."

Alec gave Logan a fake smile. "Thanks for pointing that out, pal."

"If they're going to attack, we can't just sit here like cattle ready for slaughter," Rift said.

Max looked at Rift. "You're right. We've gotta make a defense plan."

"For right now, it might be smart to post look outs around the perimeter," Alec suggested.

Max nodded. "I think it'd be best to separate all able transgenics into units, that way, when White and his pals come, we can send out certain units to stop them."

"Let me guess," Alec jumped in, "You'll be leading the command unit."

Before Max could agree or disagree, Logan spoke. "Max, can I talk to you for a second?"

Annoyed at the mention of having a side-bar, Max sighed. "Alright."

They stepped away from the group.

"You can't lead them into battle, Max," he said hushed even though he knew the group probably heard what he said regardless of the fact they held their own conversation.

"Logan, this isn't time for you to worry about me-"

"I'm not," he said simply, then shook his head. "I'll always worry but that's not it. You said that that Familiar said Alec was The Destroyer and the Leader. He's supposed to lead them."

Frowning, Max pondered his words. Eventually, she agreed. "You're right."

"Alec," she called to the young X5. "What do you think we should do?"

Surprise covered his face. "You're asking me? The high and mighty Max is asking trouble maker Alec for advice?"

"No," she shook her head. "I'm telling you you're in charge. You're the Leader, not matter how highly improbable that may be."

"Alec," Wil said softly from beside him. "You're the best, remember? And you were our CO. It only makes sense."

It took Alec a moment to accept the notion. As soon as he did, his face set with determination. "Wil, I want you, Rift and Joshua to get me a list of all able trangenics. I want series, names, capabilities, and special abilities." He turned to Mole. "You and Thikit round up all our weaponry and I mean all of it, down to the smallest bullet." The four transgenics nodded and left.

Alec faced Logan. "Logan, I know you want to go dig up more on this ancient prophecy. Hopefully you can find something on this war and how it's supposed to end."

Logan could feel the muscles in his jaw tighten with displeasure at being ordered around by Alec. He pushed the felling aside. "I'm on it." And he was gone leaving Alec and Max.

"What do you want me to do?" Max asked evenly.

Suppressing a smirk, Alec replied. "Post people at points along the perimeter. Make sure they know how important is to watch for anything try to get in. I want to know if a fly enters Terminal City."

Max nodded and began to leave but Alec called after her. "Max, I didn't hear a 'yes sir'."

She faced him with a strained smile. "Yes, sir," she said and then saluted him with her middle finger. Turning on her heel, Max left before Alec could say anything else.

With the last person gone, that left Alec alone with his thoughts. He sighed heavily feeling the weight baring down on him. For a happy-go-lucky sociopath without a care in the world, this whole situation sucked. Alec would give anything to have things back to normal. When he was just trying to get by and not get captured or killed. When he could hang out with the gang at crash. He didn't want to be the freakin' leader of an entire race.

He smirked. Although, being in charge of Max would be the frosting on the cake of this entire thing.

Leader. He was their leader. He got to make the decisions. How bizarre was that? Alec still couldn't fully grasp the idea.

What if he failed them? What if he got them all killed? What if he got Max or Joshua killed? What if he got Wil killed?

Alec shook his head forcefully. Playing the 'What if' game could go on all day. But his thoughts drifted back to what Max had always said about him. He screwed up everything.

For the sake of every living transgenic, Alec hoped Max was wrong.




Max laid the map out on the table in front of Alec, drawing his attention away from the weapons listing.

She pointed the map. "The red dots are where I posted lookouts."

He nodded approvingly. "Looks good." He glanced over her face and his eyes snapped to her forehead. "Max, your number's gone!"

Involuntarily, her hand went to her forehead. She frowned. "Completely gone?"

"Yeah," he nodded.

"I wonder what that could mean."

A thought occurred to Alec. "If you're not number one anymore, does that mean everyone's moved up one?" Alec palled at the thought. "That would make Wil number one."

"You don't know that, Alec," she tried to reassure him.

"Wil can't be first, Max." He looked at her sadly. "If I screw up…"

"Alec," Max spoke softly to him instead of her usual no nonsense, harsh tone. "You'll do us proud."

Max's word stunned Alec. In all the time they'd known each other that had to be the most sincere thing she had said to him.

But then she continued not letting the moment get to touchy feely. "Because, if you don't, I'll be right there to kick your ass."

Alec relaxed a bit. Now that was the old Maxie talking. He smirked. "You promise?"

"Always."

Alec looked back to the map. "Well, at least we're one up on them." He glanced at her. "The sides are uneven, thanks to you."

Max snorted. "A fat lota good that does us. We don't even know what I'm supposed to do in this damn prophecy."

Alec smiled sardonically. "You're supposed to deliver the helpless, remember?"

"Whatever that means."

Wil chose that moment to come up to the two, complete list of all transgenics in hand. "Here's the list, Alec. We've listed everyone by series and then, for the non-Xs, by ability. We also listed the pregnant females and how far along they are."

He took the list and perused it quickly. "This is great." He looked to Wil. "Nice job."

She smiled. "I had good help."

Confusion crossed Alec's face. "You're rune's different. It's the Same as Joshua's."

She nodded. "That's the other thing. Everyone's runes have changed. Instead of having one transgenic per number, multiple trangenics have the same number."

"What could that mean?" Max wondered.

"I think," Alec began, "it means everyone no longer gets killed separately but in large groups."

No one said anything in response to that. How could they?

After a long silence, Wil cleared her throat. "Um, we put everyone's new numbers on the list too."

Rubbing his eyes with his finger and thumb, Alec sighed. "Okay. I'm going to put everyone into units." He looked at both Max and Wil. "You guys can…" he trailed off. The weary looks on their faces made Alec reconsider. He smiled lightly. "Go relax." He winked at Wil and departed to a secluded room.




Papers littered the desk in front of Alec. If he ever saw another list, he'd swear he'd throw up. He rummaged through the papers and found the desired one.

Light knocking drew his attention to the Door.

"Yeah," Alec called.

Wil poked her head in. "How's the emperor of Terminal City?"

Alec smirked. "That's no way to address you Caesar. I expect at least one of the proper titles. Alec the Magnificent, Alec the Hottest Thing on Two Legs, or, short and simple, Sex God would do."

Rolling her eyes at his horrible, albeit true, self titles, Wil entered the room casually. She moved to stand behind him peering over his shoulder. She frowned reading the paper in front of him. "Is this the list of units?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Why am I in your unit?"

He avoided her eyes. "I figured the major players in the prophecy should be together."

"You've got Max leading her own unit," she mentioned while pointing to the list.

Trying desperately to find some logical reason why he had put her in his unit, Alec stammered. "Well, I was just… I though you might…"

"You don't think I'm strong enough to lead anyone, do you?" she questioned him.

"No, Will, that's not-"

"You think I'm weak, is that it?" She ignored his reply. "I was your second in command at Manticore. I'm a good leader, you use to know that! But, with what happened, you must think me a frail, weak, pathetic thing who can't protect herself, let alone others!"

She threw up her hands as if giving up on caring. "That's fine." She headed for the door. "The man I love thinks I'm useless."

In a breath, Alec stood behind her and grabbed her arm forcing her to look at him. "Christ, you jump to conclusions! Can I explain to you why I put you in my unit?"

Starring at him skeptically, she gave him a terse nod.

Alec took in a large breath organizing his thoughts. "I wanted you with me," he began. "Your rune has you tagged as the third group to die. I wanted you near me to make sure that didn't happen," he ended softly.

Her face saddened. "Alec, I'm not going to die, none of us are."

"How do you know?"

"Because we've got you leading us," she told him and it was evident by the conviction in her voice that she fully believed that.

Alec's hazel eyes dropped to the floor. "I don't think I can do this. What if I screw up?"

Wil brought her hands to rest on his hips. Leaning foreword, Wil's forehead touched his. "Alec, you can do this," she whispered. "You are strong, and you are the best. Manticore made you our CO for a reason." She laid her hand on his chest right over his rune. "This rune on your chest puts you as our leader for a reason. And you know that, whatever happens, I love you. I believe in you."

Moving back precious inches, Alec studied her face. The love in her eyes and the naked affection, he felt her words were true. He smiled softly. "Thank you," he whispered.

"Not a problem."

"Alright," he said lightly. "Back to work with you."

She mocked saluted while scrunching her face up like a teasing child. "Yes, sir."

She turned to leave and Alec gave her a hearty slap on the ass. "That a girl."

Glaring at him, she crossed her arms. "I've got the immense desire to jack you in the nuts."

"Come on now, Wil. You're too good to use cheap shots," he winked at her.

She opened the door and glanced back at the mischievous transgenic leader. "Apparently you're not."




Bullets soared by her only missing her by centimeters. Another explosion to her left stung her face with unleashed heat. Wiping the dirty sweat off her bruised forehead, she searched the singed land. Grey smoke obscured her view. She could taste the burnt powder diluted in the air.

Shattered bodies laid strewn about her feet and in front of her. Blood soiled her hands, some of it hers, but most belonging to those around her.

She couldn't hear. Multiple explosions and fly by bullets had left her ears ringing painfully. Even without her hearing, she still felt the vibrations of extremely close explosions.

Using everything she had, she forced her exhausted body to hunt for him. Carefully, she stepped over or around bodies screaming for him. At least, she hoped she was screaming. It didn't occur to her that, even if she was, who would have heard her over the wind and explosions. The fact that everyone within range was dead or dying didn't help the matter either.

She shivered. Her clothes hung off her in filthy rags coated with dried blood. The wind picked up bringing the smell of charred flesh to her nostrils. Judging from how light the sky was, she imagined it was early morning.

The smoke in front of her began to clear due to the wind.

She saw him.

Rushing over to his still figure, her tired legs faltered and tripped. One knee hitting the frozen ground first; she slid on her stomach to an abrupt stop. She lifted her throbbing head to find him again.

She thought him motionless, but then watched closer to see his chest rise than fall shallowly. Crawling on her elbows and pushing away a dead body with distinct canine features, she finally reached him.

She sought out his hand finding it cold. His lips were already blue. Hovering over him, she spoke his name.

Light sparked in his eyes with recognition. It took his fatigued eyes an eternity to focus on her. He said her name hoarsely.

The corners of her lips turned up in a small smile. Leaning closer to him, her lip seized his in a promising kiss. His cold lips cracked underneath hers leaking his luke-warm blood. Tears slipped quietly from her eyes at the break in his once supple lips.

Slowly, letting time stretch out before them, she pulled away. Despite the chill covering his body, his eyes refused to lose that fire and for one glorious moment amongst the death, hope filled her weary body.

That fickle hope was snatched away as heated lead seared through her back. So many bullets had gone by her but one sought her out and nailed its target.

She felt herself slump across him but struggled to keep his face in view. Anguish and fury marred his alluring face.

And suddenly, her ears stopped their dreadful ringing. A high pitched whine replaced it declaring another explosion was eminent.

Wil jerked up straight in bed breathing heavily.

The sudden movement caused her companion in the bed to wake startled as well. Alec sat up confused, eyes never leaving Wil. "Wil? Are you okay?" His voice sounded gravely even to his own ears so he cleared his throat.

Wil's intense breathing began to slow as she realized it was a dream. No, not a dream. A nightmare.

"I'm okay. I just had a nightmare." She rubbed her eyes. "It was just a nightmare," she said quietly to herself.

Alec comfortingly rubbed her back. Something indistinguishable haunted her face. "You sure you're okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." Laying a hand on his bare chest, she gently pushed him back down to the mattress. "Let's go back to sleep." Scootching closer to him, she lowered her head to his shoulder and moved her arm around his stomach.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked quietly.

She shook her head as best she could against his shoulder. "No, it was just a silly nightmare."

He planted a placid kiss on her forehead. "I love you."

She tightened her hold on him. "I love you too."