TITLE: Genetically Empowered (My Finale & Season 3)

EPISODE: 1 "BOTTLENECK" 8/16/02

WRITTEN BY: Heather Ferguson (fergus80)

EMAIL: hferguso@niu.edu

WEBSITE: http://eric_greta.tripod.com (Jensen)

RATING: PG-13 (For now, will post alternate chapters if ratings change)

SUMMARY: How 'Freak Nation' and S3 should have been. M/A

SPOILERS: Everything!

DISCLAIMER: All Dark Angel characters belong to James Cameron, FOX, etc. etc. etc.

FEEDBACK: PLEASE!!! I CRAVE IT!!! It makes me want to write more.

DEDICATION: To all the Nuns at the Church of Alec, and the Blue Lady! And a special thank you to those who read, and corrected my spelling, grammar, tenses, etc. You know who you are, you wonderful nuns you. ;)

RANT: Okay, here is how my season 3 would have went, had Freak Nation been the way I wrote it, in Genetically Empowered. Going off of spoilers, speculation, and my own weird mind. I am trying to write each chapter as if it were an Episode of Dark Angel. In all there will be 22 episodes. Posted on Friday nights, complete with teasers for next weeks episodes. LOL (Some weeks will have reruns ;) Hey, I do need breaks too! LOL)

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A newsboy rode through the broken down city on his bike, pulling a wagon behind him full of papers. He leaned back picking up a large stack and threw it to one of the buildings before moving to his next destination. The stack of papers landed at a large metal door.

Normal walked over and picked up the stack by the strings and walked inside Jam Pony, as other messengers walk about getting ready for their shift. He cut the string and an arm quickly reached around him pulling one of the papers from him, "Hey!"

Original Cindy rolled her eyes at him, and leaned against the desk opening up 'News World Weekly.' Normal took one of the papers himself, and started to read as well, handing out packages to the messengers as they passed him by.

The newspaper showed a picture of Terminal City with the title, '100 days and counting… by Calvin S. Theodore'.

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100 DAYS…

The same image of TC could be seen a few miles away, but this time a girl could be seen sitting on the roof, looking back up at the still waving flag that her friend had painted before everything had started. Her dark hair blew in the wind just as the white wings of the dove did on the flag.

*One hundred days. We have been hiding and fighting for one hundred days now,* she thought and sighed as her mind remembered what had occurred over the last three months. They had been exposed and retreated into Terminal City, and almost everyone had decided to stay, stay and fight for their lives, for freedom. But so far, they had only bought themselves time. The government wasn't willing to talk, and people were still scared.

Logan had escaped from jail, along with the help of a few transgenics Max had sent. Eyes Only was officially over. White had effectively informed the police that Logan was the so-called freedom fighter. After his little attempt with the police at Jam Pony, the people were not inclined to believe what he said. With no other place to go, he had moved into Terminal City as well. She just hoped that the blood transfusion that Joshua had given him so long ago would help protect him from the toxic waste that was the city in which they all now lived.

His living there had complicated things. There was no way she could keep up the lie that she had told him. So she finally admitted that she had told him that she and Alec were together just so that he would get over her. The look of shock and relief that had washed over his face, made her heart break even more. Because he expected that she would then want to be together again. And again she broke his heart, telling him that they could only be friends. That she couldn't be anything else, but this time she blamed the war, that the transgenics needed her full attention. *Why am I always making excuses?*

She shook the thought away, trying to remember some of the good things. A small smile formed on her face. She had finally given Sketchy his interview, and it propelled him to a top writer for his newspaper. He was now working fully on their movement, and all events happening with it. He reported the truth, completely. Max just hoped people were reading, that maybe it could help them, help the cause.

Then there was OC and Normal. Both working at Jam Pony, even though they knew the government was watching them carefully. Normal still supplied them sector passes, and got 'special' packages to them, while Cindy helped to smuggle other things they needed back into TC for them. Max hated to have to use her friends, afraid they would get hurt. But as Cindy had told her, "There's no way you're keepin' me away Boo."

Even though life in TC was hell. Her small apartment, a short distance away from headquarters was a pit, like everyone else's living arrangements. She had to admit, it was strangely nice to be around people like her, X's or anomalies. For once, she actually felt like she could be herself. And each and every day, more and more were coming to TC. Many more that she now considered friends. She gave a smile and turned around at the sound of the voice behind her.

"Hey, Little Fella."

"Hey Joshua," she responded walking over to him.

"Alec said to find you."

She rolled her eyes and started to head for the stairs, "What now?"

"Mole's angry about…" he went on and she sighed again.

*When is Mole, not angry?* she asked herself.

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They designed her to be the perfect soldier--a human weapon. Then she escaped. In a future not far from now, in a broken world, she is haunted by her past. She cannot run; she must fight to discover her destiny. --- DARK ANGEL

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"I don't care. You know as well as I do that the plan won't work," came the sound of Mole's voice as Max walked into the main room of headquarters. She sighed as she started to walk up the stairs.

"It's not our place to decide what…" Alec started and saw Max, stopping instantly.

"What's the problem here gents?" She asked moving over to the table, looking at both men expecting an answer.

Alec sighed, "Max, would you just explain to Mole the plan you have."

"I don't need it explained," Mole said taking the cigar from his mouth. "I heard it before. It was bad then, and it's bad now."

"What's so bad about it?" she asked the reptilian man.

"What's not bad about it?" He returned, and then motioned to Alec, "Ask him, he'll tell you."

Alec gave Mole an evil look, and put up his hands. Max turned to him, "So you think it's a bad idea too?"

He could hear the anger in her voice, "I didn't say anything Max. This is your call."

She looked at him, trying to read him. Then she looked at everyone else staring up at her, waiting for something. "My office, now." She growled at him, and made it down the steps and towards the room at the side.

He sighed and patted Mole on back hard, "Thanks man. Thanks a lot. I appreciate it." Mole smirked at him, while Luke and Dix gave him a sympathetic look. Why did he feel like he was being sent to the principal's office? He followed her into the room, and shut the door behind him, and waited. He didn't have to wait long.

She spun on her heal and faced him, "What the hell is wrong with my plan?"

"Max…" he started but she cut him off again.

"Are you and Mole, and everyone else talking behind my back? Questioning my orders?" He let out a deep breath shaking his head no. "Then what? What is it?"

"Max, I'm going along with what you said, aren't I? What more do you want?"

She tilted her head to the side, and looked at him. Thinking about what he said. She turned and sat back in her chair in a huff. "Alec… Tell me what's wrong with my plan."

He looked at her, and tried to decide exactly what and why she was asking. Was she asking cause she really wanted to know? Or was she asking so that she could yell at him? Over the last three months, things had gotten better between them. They had begun to be good friends. Trusting each other with their lives. Well, honestly they did that before, but now they actually acknowledged that fact. But that didn't mean that she still didn't like to yell and bitch at him for no reason. Heck he would be scared if she ever stopped. He caught her eyes, and saw that she was waiting for an answer. He took a seat across from her.

"The plan will probably work."

She shook her head, "That's not what I asked."

"Okay. Fine." He tried to figure out how to tell her. Tell her something they had learned in basic training, without sounding like she didn't know what she was doing. "One, you have too many people going in. There is no need to risk that many people." He saw her nod, and he continued. "Two, we should send out a recon team first, make sure the Intel we have is accurate." He saw her about to object, "I don't care what Logan says. I don't care what he pulled from the net. We should only trust our own people, our own eyes. And you know as well as I do, that Logan doesn't have as good of contacts now as he once did."

She couldn't deny that fact, but it didn't mean that she liked to admit he was right. "Anything else?"

"We should do it in the morning, not at night."

"What?" she yelled standing up. "That is the stupidest…"

He stood quickly cutting her off, "Max… they know we need these supplies. They know we will be coming after them. They expect us to do it at night. In the early morning, with people going to work, people changing shifts… it messes them up more."

She sat back down and put her face in her hands, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. "Everyone out there knew my plan sucked, didn't they?" She looked up at him, and he moved over in front of her, bending down on his knees, to come face to face with her.

"Not everyone… Joshua thought it was a great idea." He caught the small smile on her face from that.

"Alec, I'm not used to this. Planning things like this. I mean, I could plan heists for one person… me. But big things like this? I have no idea what to do, no training. And everyone is expecting me to know this."

He smiled at her, "No they don't."

"Yes they do," she argued with him.

"Max, they are expecting you to lead. Not to do everything. Being a leader is more than planning missions, and knowing how to do everything." He brought his hand up under her chin, moving it up to look at him. "It's also about knowing what you don't know. And figuring out how to use the resources you have to get things done."

She let his words enter her brain, and she nodded. "Alec…"

"Yeah?"

She couldn't believe she had to ask, that she had never even thought to ask, or wanted to know before. "What were you trained for back at Manticore. Besides assassinations, like everyone else."

He straightened and stood up, "Why?"

"Well, if I'm supposed to use all my resources to get things done. I should know what everyone was trained for. So what was your job?"

"My job?" the question echoed in his head. Thoughts, images went through his mind. A slap to the face, a car exploding.

Max watched him, his mask dropping for a brief moment. A haunted look passing through his eyes, her head tilted again, as she wondered what was going on in his head. What thought had she triggered in his mind?

What could he tell her? Could he tell her the truth? Tell her, that she was? That she still is? He laughed to himself at his life, and plastered a smile on his face. "I was trained on basically everything." Which was the truth. "You know, a little of this, a little of that."

*Why is he sidestepping the issue?* she thought to herself, and then she thought she knew. *He doesn't want to have to do anything. Well to bad.* "Well, then I guess you and Mole are now the strategic planners for our raids and missions. You get the plans together, and then I will okay them." She smiled, "I guess as leader, I need to delegate responsibilities. Do you think you can handle that?" She wanted to bug him, knowing he hated being responsible for anything. Truth be told a few months ago she wouldn't have trusted him with it, but now she knew she could.

"I might be able to," he said.

"Good. Now get your ass out there and get to it."

His grin widened as he walked to the door, a little more swagger in his step, "Me and my ass Max…"

She rolled her eyes as he opened the door, "Don't flatter yourself."

He was about to respond when he saw Logan standing on the other side, hand raised, about ready to knock. "Log, buddy," he said, stepping back allowing the older man to enter. "I guess I better get to work. The boss is hounding my ass." He said pointing over his shoulder at Max, as he walked out of the room.

Logan shut the door behind him. "So you're going in for the medical supplies tonight, right?" He asked as he walked up to the table, and leaned against it.

She sat up, and scooted her chair back away from him. She always wondered why he got so close, *Does he have a death wish?* "Actually, no. We're going to send in a recon team first, to stake things out. Then go in, in the morning."

"What?" Logan yelled, but the tone of his voice never changed. "Let me guess… this was Alec's brilliantly, stupid idea."

Max ran her hand over her forehead and took a deep breath. "His, and others."

"Who? Mole? Max… this is insane. Mole and his all out war approach. Alec and his stupidity… how can you…"

She stood up quickly, "Now look who's questioning my judgment!"

"Max… how can you let them decide what to do?"

She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She did not want to have another argument with him. They were arguing a lot recently. Either it was because of what she was doing, or not doing, according to him. Or it was over him wanting to get back together. Which she didn't understand, since it was… technically impossible for them to even be together because of the virus. "Logan. I made the decision to go with their plan. I okayed it. No matter how much I hate the idea, it's the truth. I don't know the best way to do things, I wasn't trained like they were."

"You can't trust…"

She threw up her hands, "Yes I can. And that's final. I've put Alec and Mole on strategic planning, and if you don't like it… well too bad." She saw he was about to object, and she raised her had, "I don't have time for this. Was there something else? Or is that all?"

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A dark haired man walked into headquarters, and he gave a smile and patted Luke on the back as he took the stairs up two at a time. "The group has been sent, they will be radioing in at 0200."

Alec smiled and nodded, "Good. Do you have everyone ready for tomorrow morning? All the supplies they need?"

"Yep, everything is loaded, and ready. Everyone knows what to do, and what time to meet."

Alec looked over at Mole, "Anything else?"

"Nope, everything is set."

"Good," he replied, and put a hand on the other X5's shoulder. "So Vinny, how about we get out of her, and head down the street for few drinks?"

The man shook his head, as they walked to the steps, "Alec. How many times have I told you? It's Vin! Not Vinny, or Vincent, or anything else… JUST Vin!"

Alec laughed as he walked over to the door, "Whatever Vinny, whatever."

"I swear… If I didn't know just how bad you could kick my ass…"

"Are you still tasting the mat from all those times your face got planted there?" He asked as he walked out the door, the slightly shorter man following him.

Vin's brown eyes widened to adjust to the dark outside, as the two made their way to the small bar the transgenics had made. It was nothing like Crash, but it was at least a place they could all unwind, and try and forget about the real world. The Bottleneck it was called, even though there was no sign out front. Vin laughed at his comment, "At least I wasn't the only one."

Alec laughed as they walked inside, and sat down at the bar. The bartender came over, setting a glass of Scotch in front of Alec, and a beer in front of Vin. "Thanks Jake," the two echoed to the snake like man behind the bar.

A small hand was placed on each of their shoulders, and the two men turned to find a smiling blond looking at them, "So how is that raid going for my medical supplies?"

Vin smiled up at her big blue eyes, "Got recon out right now, you'll have it my noon tomorrow."

She turned to Alec, "Max actually went along with a different plan?" she asked shocked.

"Mel, it's all in the charm,' he said with a smile, and she whacked him on the shoulder.

"Yeah, whatever. Really… what did she do?"

He laughed, "She put me to work. I now have to plan everything, and she gets to okay."

Mel laughed with a large grin, "Awh, poor baby. It's going to take all that time you have for drinking, pool, and women."

"Women?" Vin shook his head, "What women? I haven't seen this guy go home with anybody since I got here."

Mel titled her head, "Yeah, actually. That's right. From all the stories I heard from Max, OC and Sketchy… you had one almost every night. What the hell happened?"

Alec took a long drink of the alcohol, and let the burning feeling go down his throat. He smirked at himself, he knew the answer, knew what had changed, but damn if he was going to admit it. "Exposure happened. I don't exactly get out into the real world much."

"Excuses, excuses," Vin said.

"Yeah," Mel said, poking Alec in the ribs, "I know quite a few X5 and X6 females that wouldn't mind having a shot with 494."

He rolled his eyes at her wink. "I'm not 494 anymore." He said, sighing and turned back to the bar.

"Yeah, yeah. Just like I'm not 673, and Vin's not 581. And we aren't the same people we were when we left Manticore. But certain things don't change, no matter what."

"Yeah, some thing's don't change," he agreed taking another drink.

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"No, that's not all Max," Logan said moving towards her again, and she stepped back.

"Logan, stop. Why do you do this? You know we can't be together. It's impossible."

"At least until we get a cure."

She rolled her eyes, "And how likely do you think that is?"

"Well, a lot less likely, if we stop looking for it. Are you willing to even try and find one anymore? Or are you just going to give up on it? On us?"

She wanted to scream, she wanted to yell. How could she get him to understand? She had finally come to the realization that they could never be together. Sure, she would like a cure. But in reality, it wasn't going to happen. They both needed to move on with their life. And right then, her life meant leading the others. She didn't have time for, and didn't want anything else. At least that's what she told herself, told herself in the moments that she felt all alone. She sighed looking at him again. "I don't have time to look. I can't leave. You know how important this is to me."

"More important than us?"

Her eyes widened in shock, "YES! This cause is more important than us, more important than anybody. Why can't you see that?"

Logan sighed. "Fine Max, I understand," he said even though he didn't. He didn't understand her at all. *How can she not want the cure as much as I do? Why does she have to let their needs come before hers? She is nothing like them, why can't she see that?* "I know you have a lot to do. I'll let you get back to work," he told her as he walked to the door. His mind thinking of ways that he could proceed on his own.

He walked out of the door, and shut it behind him, his legs swaying slightly. His hand caught the doorknob to steady himself.

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Joshua was sitting on the couch, his head moving from left to right as he watched the two women pace in front of him. Back and forth, back and forth. Dix tried to ignore them as he focused on the computer in front of him, while Luke had to turn away. Their pace quickening and making him slightly dizzy.

"Where are they?" Max asked for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning.

"And why haven't they radioed in yet?" Mel asked, running her hand through her long hair.

Mole groaned from the corner, and put out his cigar in the ash try. "Will the two of you sit down before you put a hole in the floor? It's not late. They still have more than enough time. And, the plan had radio silence."

"I knew I shouldn't have trusted him to do this simple little thing."

Mel turned towards her, "Hey! Alec and Vin know what they are doing, and you know it."

Max glared at her, "Oh really?" she stopped in her tracks looking at the other woman. "Well Alec doesn't have the best track record."

Mel laughed, "He might have screwed up once in his whole life, and you're going to hold that against him? Do you even know what happened on that mission?"

Max cringed slightly, she did know. But she retaliated anyway, forgetting the fact, that the woman had just basically told her that Alec hadn't done anything else wrong back at Manticore. "Well, you might have known him back then, but you've only been around him for a little over a month since he got out."

"Yeah, and I bet he's had your back the entire time."

"More like I've been saving his ass the entire time."

Mel rolled her eyes, "Yeah, and how many times has he saved yours?"

Max didn't get a chance to respond or even think about it, because Dix interrupted her. "They're on their way back now!" he yelled, with a hand to his ear, listening to the radio call.

"Finally," Max said as the two women went to stand behind him, looking at the video cameras, and watching the van starting to pull up to the hidden entrance they had made. Max looked over her shoulder, "Get the crew out there to unload." Luke nodded and went outside, as they followed.

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Vin pulled the van up near the building right next to headquarters, their so-called hospital. Alec jumped out the other side, moving around back to open the doors, as other transgenics came from the building. A chain forming, moving the stuff inside. Vin came out the other side, and both men leaned on their respective back doors.

Mel trotted up to them, Max right behind the slightly taller woman. The blonde whacked them both up the side of the head, and stood with her hands on her hips, as they both rubbed the now sore spots. "What the hell was that for?" Alec asked.

"For taking your sweet little time getting back here with my supplies."

Vin looked over at Alec, "Women, they're never happy."

Alec looked at the slightly angry face of Max, now standing next to Mel, in a similar stance. "Tell me about it." Then he motioned to the two of them, and looked back over at the other man. "Do you think all the hostility and bitchiness was put into their DNA?"

The two women's faces looked shocked at his words, and Vin took a step back, "Oh, man… I'm not saying a word."

They both started to walk to Alec, and he started backing up slowly, putting his hands up in the air as they advanced on him. "Ladies, ladies… it was a joke… just a joke." He quickly found himself backed against the wall. "Okay… I'm sorry… How about drinks… on me… to make up for it?"

Max turned to Mel, "I think I could go for a few drinks."

The blonde smiled, "Yeah, does sound good." They both turned around, walking off arm in arm, leaving both men standing there.

Alec moved back to the van, and Vin put a hand on his shoulder, "Do you just like to piss them off?"

His mouth turned into a grin and his hazel eyes sparkled, "It's just so easy…" His friend just shook his head.

"Alec!" Max yelled back at them, "Get your ass moving, you got some rounds to buy!" The two men sighed at each other, and they ran to catch up as they all headed for The Bottleneck.

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Scenes from an All New DA on 8/23/02:

*ON THE NEXT DARK ANGEL*

Alec turned back to them, "You know. I almost feel sorry for the poor guy."

*LOGAN BECOMES DESPIRATE TO STAY IN TERMINAL CITY*

Logan stood up, his legs shaking, and he had to grab onto the desk not to fall.

*WHAT WILL HE DO?*

Logan then pulled up some more data on the computer, wrote down a number, and walked towards the back of the room.

*BUT WILL HIS DESPIRATE MEASURES COME SOON ENOUGH?*

Max looked up into his hazel eyes. Her fingertips rested on his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath, "Alec…"

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