Disclaimer : Not mine
Summary : Yet another virtual Season 3 ! Guess who'll be leading Terminal City ? ? ?
Rating : PG-13 (may turn to R for violence later)
A/N : Just trying to explore another possible future for sure, the show wouldn't have gone this way !

Hazardous Future – Prologue " Both sides "

By MM

2 weeks after FN…

" Well Logan, for sure, we can't go on like that. Anyway, I can't. "

Logan swallowed. Good thing they weren't talking about their couple. " Yes, you can, Max. You're not alone. Okay, I know you're upset coz' OC and Sketchy have to leave, but I will stay, and I'll be here with you, for you… "

Max sighed. " I know Logan, and I can't help feeling guilty about this. I should be asking you to leave as well,… "

" I wouldn't. Not as long as you have authorities issues here besides, Josh's blood keeps me immune. "

Max sighed deeper. " Logan, how many times shall I repeat it ? I'm sure I'm not the right person in charge. I shouldn't be the so-called fearless leader here. "

" Why not, Max ? Only you can prevent a slaughter. You can see both sides. You've been living long enough in the outside world to understand it, and you're loyal to your kind. You're their best chance, and I'm not even talking about White and his Familiars. "

" Perhaps you're right about that, but I'm not able to manage things here. I'm not even able to get them settled. "

" All you have to do is to surround yourself with a good team, people you can trust, and delegate. "

" Sure, it looks easy that way, but remember the first time we came here. Thanks to Mole and Dix and the others, they already had running water and electricity, the perimeter was secured. They had food, ammo, intel. Logan, they sure don't need me as a leader, any of them can do better strategic planning, any of them has ten years military training ahead of me. And if some of us were made to be leaders, Zack was, but I wasn't. "

" They need someone to unify them ! "

" And I would be the one ? I really don't think so. "

" And who else ? Mole ? No, he's way too aggressive, and the X's wouldn't take their orders from him. So… "

" I've been discussing this with Alec and "

" Alec ? Max, you've dot to be kidding ! " Logan interrupted her. " Don't tell me he's the one who talked you into this non-sense. Of course he is ! I couldn't understand where your fears came from, but if you're taking advice from Alec, everything suddenly makes sense ! Did he convince you as well that he would be great for the job ? "

" Logan, it's not what you think. "

" Max, listen to me " Logan grabbed her hands to emphasize his next sentence. " Alec is less leader stuff than you are don't you remember how many times he screw up, and you had to come to save his ass, you even considered it as a full-time job ! You can't be trusting him to lead Terminal City ! "

" Logan, I'm sure Alec doesn't want to become our leader. Anyway, he has changed a lot since we met him "

They were oblivious to the two figures coming from the stairs below. Mole's cigar was shining in the darkness. Both shadows stopped in their tracks as they realised Max was not alone. Both of them knew they had to make up their minds tonight, they also knew their decisions were going to build their future, and others' as well. Mole sighed once more. He sure didn't like it, and he had made it pretty sure Alec caught his reluctance. But the other options looked even worse, so he was going to get the better of it. As they emerged on the roof, he looked briefly over the fence at the powerfull spotlights illuminating some of TC. He snorted. *Of course, ordinaries can't see anything by night.* He felt Alec stiffen at his side, and looked across the roof. Thanks to their night vision, they were able to see Logan holding Max's hands with his gloved ones.

" Nice scenery. Wasn't she your girlfriend ? " Mole said in a disgusted whisper.

Alec shrugged and moved forward. " No, we were never like that. "

" Anyway, now I'm convinced, and I'll back you up. "

Alec stopped. " Listen, Mole, Logan may be an ordinary, but he's a good guy. Whatever happens from now on, keep it in mind. It's going to make things easier for Max, and she'll probably need you to back her up later. "

Silence followed and their enhanced senses enabled them to hear Max's words.

" …since we met him, he was irresponsible, and totally carefree, but his training as soldier… "

Logan interrupted her once more. " A soldier ? Alec's basically trained for solo missions, assassinations if my memories serve me right, not as a general ! " Logan jumped and lost his grip on Max, startled as Alec joined suddenly their conversation.

" Both of you forgot to highlight how smart, charming and sexy I am " his eyes were focused on Max's face, his smirk turning into a predator's smile as he then looked at Logan " but I'm glad Logan remembered I can be dangerous as well. " He sighed inwardly *Irresponsible. Carefree. And soldier on the bright side. Is that all you see in me, Max ? Not even the friend ?*

Logan wasn't going to let him spill this discussion, given its major topic. He could see Mole chewing his cigar a few feet away. " Alec, you and I both know you're less of a danger if shot in the shoulder. " He had seen Mole gulping and almost swallowing his cigar now. " I'd be glad to hear and knock down any good reason you have to prepare Max's succession ? "

" Logan, I already told you, I'm not the right leader. " interfered Max. They were talking about her, after all.

" Well, let's ask Mole ! Would you follow Max as leader ? "

" Is it me you're talking to, Logan ? Looking for desperate reinforcements ? Well, as much as I wouldn't follow you, I would follow her… "

Logan had made his point. " You see, Max, Mole acknowledges you as leader potential. Trust his opinion. "

Mole finished his sentence " or Alec, but I'm not the one to convince. The Xs want someone they trust and respect. "

" And even if Max set all of us free last year, for most of the Xs, she's one of the escapees of '09, so she's among the traitors ! " Alec added bitterly.

" How dare you call Max a traitor ? "

" Logan, he didn't call me a traitor. He just told you that's what most people here are still feeling toward me. "

" But you deserve their respect ! "

" I'll have to gain it. In the meantime, I won't be the leader here anymore. As you told me before, we need someone to unify us, and I'm not the spontaneous choice. " Max was tired with the whole thing, it had started with the exposure a few weeks earlier, then the pressure had grown up since the Jam Pony crisis, now they were stuck here, worse developments were to expect she didn't feel able to face all this and it was obvious for someone listening to her.

Logan tried a last blow, a low one, he knew it but she was going to make an awful mistake, and he had to prevent it. " Don't tell me Alec can be a natural choice, given what we know about his records. May I remind all of you of the Berrisford inci "

" A good guy, you told me " grumbled Mole to Alec while grabbing violently Logan's shirt. He was kind of surprised by Alec's lack of reaction.

" Stop it ! " ordered Max. She had been looking at Alec when Logan mentionned Berrisford, and he hadn't flinched. Sure, his mask was high on his features recently, the last few days had been harsh on him as well. She had seen it. He didn't need to be hurt like that, unnecessarily. He was likely as fed up as she was with this argument, so she choose to end it quickly now. " Mole, please let him go. Logan, we will be under siege here pretty soon, and I'm the weakest option available. Tomorrow morning, I'll lend command over. That's it ! Now I'll go spend what's left of the evening with OC and Sketchy ! " *A few beers are perhaps going to bless my headache.* " Wanna come, Alec ? "

He nodded " Always in the mood for partying ! " and followed her. She had made her decision clear. Better, tonight, she was mad at Logan, but surely, they would make up pretty soon. He turned and winked at Mole, it was so fun leaving him in the lead with Log. Both of them could perhaps even come to terms tonight, no ? So all he had to do now was to spend a nice evening among his friends, with her, before the drastic changes about to come in his life tomorrow. He would tell Dave and the others tonight. He also had made his decision.