Ch. 14:
"Hey everyone," I greeted, while walking into Terminal City. The few transgenics that were up this morning glanced up and waved.
"Hey, Bobbie," said Luke as he looked up from the surveillance system he was repairing. "Who's that?" Using a monkey wrench, Luke pointed at Bree who followed me from behind.
Turning to Bree, I said, "Luke, Bree. Bree, Luke."
"Hey," the two greeted as I looked around the conference hall for Alec. Setting his monkey wrench to the floor, Luke held out a hand and Bree nervously shook it. Giving her a bashful smile, he asked, "You're from Alec's old unit, right? Like Bobbie?"
"Yeah," Bree replied with a smile. "I think I've seen you around."
Luke puffed up his chest with pride, "If you were doing trench warfare, I was the guy digging the trenches."
"That must have been so difficult," said Bree with a sympathetic smile. "Those trenches were horrible when it rained."
"Hey Luke," I asked. "Where's Alec?"
"Alec?" Luke echoed. "He's in the infirmary with Louise. One of the kids who got injured last night is having a rough time."
"Is he going to make it?"
Luke shrugged. "Don't know. I heard from Connie that he got beat up pretty bad."
"Beat up?" I asked, furrowing my brow. "Did familiars attack the group?"
"Maybe," said Luke. I glanced over to the mess hall, where Benny, the main cook was yelling at an X4 and waving his spatula in the air. The little X4 looked as though she was about collapse on the floor, her body trembling so visibly.
I turned to Luke and Bree, "Okay. Luke, you take Bree over to the mess hall. Introduce her to Benny and tell him he's hiring a new cook."
Luke blanched. "Aw jeez, Bobbie, I don't know," he said. "Benny doesn't take too kindly with someone poaching his territory."
"I don't care," I snapped. "Benny's food stinks. Has been for a long time. Bree's a good cook. He can have my word on that. If not, Bree, you show that transgenic how to cook something besides meat and potatoes and chicken florentine." With that, I marched off to the infirmary.
The infirmary was small building located on the street behind the main building of TC. Giving Connie, the receptionist, a quick greeting, I asked her which room my brother was in with the injured X6. She directed me to a room that was on the second floor. Louise was making one of the beds while Alec sat by a transgenic whose arms and head were bandaged. I walked over to my brother and tapped him on the shoulder. Alec woke with a start, his hazel eyes looking blearily up at me.
"Rise and shine, little brother," I said, glancing over at the transgenic lying on the bed. He could have been no more than twenty-two years old. Odd, how he looked so young when I was just three years older than him.
"How's he doing?" I asked as Alec heaved a sigh and rubbed his eyes.
Shaking his head, he answered, "Louise says he's going to make it. It's nothing a few months of rest won't cure, but.God! Bobbie, he's so young!"
"He's an X6. It's what he was made to do. Recon and other stuff."
"Yeah," breathed Alec, rubbing the nape of his neck. "The team only made it with one box of tryptophan."
"That's only one hundred bottles," I said. "Not enough to supply the X5's around here."
"We're running low on the pills," said Alec, a worried cast overshadowing his face. "My bet is that over half of the X5's around here have at least one bottle left before our group starts having seizures."
"That's not good."
"I know," said Alec, running a hand through his hair and tapping his foot impatiently against the smooth linoleum floor. "The next supply of tryptophan coming into the market won't happen for another month or so, if the market's good."
"How about you?" I asked. "How many bottles do you have left?" I only had two bottles in my medicine cabinet, but I didn't get seizures too often. Alec, on the other hand.
"One," my brother replied. "I'm good for now." I'm sure I looked worried because Alec grinned at me. "Bobbie, I'm not six years old anymore. I haven't had a bad seizure since I was a kid."
"You never know," I said warily. "I remember when you were stressed, they'd hit you so bad it was a miracle the officers didn't come and take you away."
"That's because I had you to watch my back." Alec smiled at me, trying to convince me that everything was all right despite the fear in his eyes.
He sighed. "Look, Bobbie, I promise I'll take care of myself. I'm just worried about everyone else. The X5s who have kids-they need extra bottles 'cause some of their kids have seizures too." Alec slammed a fist into his thigh. "Damn! We really needed that tryptophan."
"Do you know what prevented the group from attaining their objective?"
"Familiars," Alec replied, rubbing his forehead.
I groaned, "Figures. What do those nut-jobs want? White isn't around anymore since he got booted from the NSA. Must they resort to harassment?"
"I guess they just don't have enough fulfillment in their lives."
"I guess not," I sighed, looking back at the sleeping X6. "Poor kid. He doesn't deserve this."
"He doesn't," said Alec. "Nobody does." We watched his eyes flutter open.
"What happened?" the X6 muttered, struggling to rise up.
Alec gently pushed the soldier down as he answered, "You got hurt on the mission. Almost didn't think you'd pull through." The X6 frowned at the bandages on his arm and his good hand reached up to touch the bandages covering his head. The boy swallowed hard as he looked at Alec.
"Sir," he began, "I'm sorry I failed you. I was selected leader of the reconnaissance mission and I failed. I recall that my team barely made it out with one box of tryptophan by the time we escaped from our attackers."
"It's okay--," Alec paused to look at the wounded soldier's medical chart, "Trent. You did your best. That's all I ask of you on any mission."
Trent bent down in shame as he insisted, "But sir, our attackers defeated us. We should've--,"
"Should have what?" Alec interrupted. "Should have gotten yourselves killed?" Trent looked at Alec stubbornly. My brother heaved a deep sigh as he closed his eyes for a moment. "Trent, you were fighting familiars. Those bastards are a bitch and a half to fight and you were lucky you and your team made it out alive with one box of tryptophan. If I were you, I'd get well and be thankful for what I've got."
"Yes, sir," Trent swallowed hard. He looked back up at Alec again, his face slowly swelling with pride and determination. "You can rest assured sir, that when I'm on my feet again, I'll be in training so that the next time I come against them, I won't be such an easy target."
"That's good, kid," said Alec, slapping the boy on the soldier.
"Alec. Bobbie." We looked up to see Louise standing over us, dirty bed- sheets in her hands. The female lizard looked at the X6 sympathetically before turning to us. "Trent needs his rest now. I'm afraid you have to leave."
"Oh. Sure," said Alec, getting up and leading me out of the infirmary. As the infirmary door closed on us, we looked through the round window, watching Louise pull the bed-sheets a little tighter over Trent's resting form. Alec sighed as we walked back to the main building of Terminal City.
"First the attack at the piers and now this," Alec shook his head angrily. "The familiars are stepping up their attacks. They've always attacked us, but this is the first time they've attacked within a two day period."
"Think they're up to something?" I asked.
Alec looked grim as he replied, "I think so. I'm going to talk to Max about beefing up security around here. Two attacks in the space of two days is not good. Especially since they took place during supply missions."
"What do you think they want?" I asked. "What use could they have for tryptophan or blankets and light-bulbs?"
"Nothing," said Alec. "Unless they want to wipe us out by cutting off or limiting our supplies."
"Those crazy familiars," I said. "Always got something up their sleeve."
"Don't you know it," said Alec, stuffing his hands into his pockets. A lengthy pause fell between us before Alec asked, "How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine," I said, folding my arms. "Feels like my heart is going to break, but otherwise I'm of the good."
"Called him?" my brother asked.
"Yes," I replied, jumping over a sidewalk crack. "Only got his answering machine, though. He's gone to Washington, I bet."
"You don't know that," said Alec, as he waved to an X5 who was sweeping the debris around her small house. The X5 female smiled broadly at him. Alec smiled back as the woman proceeded to pull down her shirt, revealing her ample cleavage. Alec grinned broadly as he stopped to stare at the woman exposing herself. The X5 pouted as she turned around and wiggled her hips on her way back into her house.
"Will you for the love of God, quit being a pig!" I scolded, wrinkling my nose in disgust at the display.
Alec turned to me, "Bobbie, I can't help it if women adore me."
I rolled my eyes, "Yes, women really love it when guys stare at their boobs. You looked like a perv."
Alec put his arm around my shoulder. "Bobbie, I'm a guy and a guy has needs."
"I so don't want to hear this," I said, pushing my brother away from me. He cackled as I rolled my eyes again and continued, "Anyway, as I was saying, Alec, as much as Peter likes to make himself the mama's boy, he barely goes to church in the morning," I scowled as the memory of Mrs. Gardener popped into my head. "My guess is, he's headed to Washington and cheering on the Congressmen supporting the bill."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Bobbie." Alec looked at me sympathetically.
Shrugging, I said, "Don't be. What's done is done. Peter and I are--," I paused before going on, "--over. His answering machine all but confirmed it." I felt a hard lump in my throat and kept my eyes facing the ground so that I wouldn't give in to the urge to cry.
Alec stepped in front of me to wrap an arm around my shoulder again. "I heard that norm females do this kind of post-break-up ritual with a little ice-cream and chick flicks." I eyed my brother warily.
"Alec, you can't stand chick flicks," I said.
Alec pretended to look offended. "Hey, I'm man enough to admit that I'm in touch with my feminine side."
"Oh really?" I asked with a grin, "Then what about the time when we watched Titanic together and you laughed when the boat sank?"
"It was funny!" Alec cried, a smile broadening his lips. I gave him a mock glare. "Oh, Bobbie, come on! You have to admit that it was funny when Leo DiCraprio was all pale and blue and Rose kept saying, 'hold on, Jack! Hold on!' as he sank to the depths below."
"It was supposed to make you cry!"
"So says the girl who cries at the drop of a hat."
"I do not!"
"Yes, you do," Alec grinned at me, showing me that he was having way too much fun at my expense. "You cried at Steel Magnolias!"
"The woman was dying from cancer!" As much as I tried to look serious and mournful, I couldn't help giggling.
We walked leisurely for a bit before resuming our quickened paces when we saw the central building of TC coming closer to us.
Alec clapped his hands together in a determined fashion. "All right, Bobbie, I'm going to need you to start asking the X5 ladies how many bottles of tryptophan they have in their households. Make sure you ask if they're pregnant or not. I need to know which women have absolute need for extra bottles and which ones don't."
"All right then," I replied. "You want me to go into the women's lodge? Most of them are in heat, but some might be in the late stages and they might be able to give me a coherent answer." Alec nodded.
"That's a good idea," he said, rubbing his thumb against his lip. "What else? I'll ask Louise if she has any tryptophan bottles in the infirmary supply. They're only for emergencies, but this rates as an emergency."
"Okay," I said as we walked past the main doors of the central building of TC. "When are you going to hold a meeting? You need to tell Dix so he can start writing the memos for Luke to deliver."
"I'll tell him myself," said Alec. He walked up a flight of stairs that led to the second floor. Walking past several rooms until we stood in front of Room 211, Alec knocked rapidly on the door.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Dix's impatient voice came through the door. As he opened the door, Dix looked at us with tired eyes as he asked, "What can I do for you?" Alec stepped into the room, which was once an office. Piles of old, dusty books lay on the desks of several empty cubicles. I followed Alec into Dix's room as Dix led us to what was once an executive's office. A small bed rested against the wall, while an ornate desk was covered with more dusty tomes.
"Want some coffee?" the small trans-human asked, walking over to the espresso machine resting on a table opposite his bed. "It's pretty bad, but not as bad as Benny's stuff." Dix proceeded to pour himself a cup and took a deep sip before setting it to the night table.
Alec shook his head as he said, "Dix. We've got a problem."
"Really?" The trans-human asked, folding his arms and leaning against his bed. "Does it have something to do with the failed tryptophan pick-up?"
"Yes," said Alec. "The X5s in Terminal City? I need to know how many bottles we have in reserve. Bobbie's asking the females about their supply, but I need you to give her their addresses."
"All right, Alec," said Dix. "I've got them in the filing cabinet outside."
Alec nodded, looking pleased. "Good. Good. Another thing, I'm asking for a private Council Meeting tonight. There have been some important changes in the last twenty-four hours we need to address."
"What kind of changes?" Dix asked, a little curious now. Alec waved a hand.
"You'll find out tonight. Just write up a memo and have Luke deliver it to the council members by three this afternoon."
Dix nodded. "That's doable. Come on, Bobbie, I'll give you a partial list of the addresses you need." Dix led me to another small office in his room that held nothing but rows and rows of file cabinets. Glancing at each cabinet, Dix muttered under his breath until he finally found what he was looking for in the farthest corner of the files and records room. Pulling out a thick folder marked X5 addresses, he handed them to me apologetically.
"I'm sorry about the state of the room," he said, re-adjusting the monocle over his left eye. "Luke and I are taking up a project where we'll be scanning the records into a main computer. We're far from finished, so there's only a partial list of addresses in that file. The rest are still being uploaded into the computer." I smiled at the little transgenic as I opened up the file to see a list of addresses.
"This is the reference index?" I asked.
Dix nodded, "Yes. That one's updated every first of the month. You only have names M-Z. The A-M list is the one being uploaded. We keep getting new arrivals every week. Not as much as the first few months after the siege, of course."
"Of course," I said, glancing over the list of names I would have to hunt down. "I can make a copy of this main list, right?"
"Yes. Yes, of course."
"Good. Then I won't need to take this list away from you and delay you from finishing up your big project."
"Hey, Dix, where's the bathroom?" Alec asked, popping his head into the room. Dix looked up at my brother and replied, "Down the hall, to your right. Here." The transgenic fished through his pants pockets and pulled out a set of keys. "These are the ones to the men's room." Dix tossed the keys to Alec, who grabbed them easily. Giving a little whistle, Alec left the room. Dix smiled as he watched Alec leave.
"Sometimes, I think Mole is right," he said in wistful tone. "Your brother would make a marvelous leader for our band of transgenics." I shot Dix a warning look. He paled a bit before back-tracking, "Of course, Max is our leader. Although, not much of one with that Logan fellow hanging around."
"You know, I don't think that's going to be much of a problem," I said with a secretive smile. Dix's eyebrows rose as he asked, "What is it? What do you know?"
"Enough," I replied with a grin. "You'll find out at the meeting tonight." Dix growled under his breath. Waving my finger at him teasingly, I said, "Now, now, now, you be nice. I just might be able to convince Susie at the mess hall to think of you as boyfriend material."
"Really?" Dix's voice was soft, now and his eyes had taken on a dreamy cast. "Has she mentioned me yet?" I smiled at him, loving how I was bringing two people together in love. I admit it. I'm a romantic sap at heart. "She's mentioned you, once or twice," I said, with a small grin. "She's just shy because of all the books you have."
Dix gave me a wide smile. "Well, I do have the largest book collection in Terminal City. Tell her that she's more than welcome to stop by and do a little reading."
"I can do better than that," I said, delighting in Dix's eyes popping wide open as he leaned close to me. "Susie's free tomorrow night and she says you can pick her up at nine when her shift's over."
"Bobbie, you're a doll!" Dix said happily. "How can I ever repay you?"
"Well, you can start by lending me some of your history books for the school," I said, eyeing the dusty tomes outside. "I'm talking the good stuff. Arthur Schlesinger. David M. Kennedy, David McCulloughs, and James Q. Wilson, those guys." Dix grasped my hand. We shook hands, sealing the deal.
"It's done," he said with a happy smile.
"What's done?" asked Alec, popping his head into the room again. Leaning against the doorjamb, he tossed the bathroom keys to Dix. Catching them, Dix put the keys into his pockets.
"What's done?" Alec asked again, noticing the big smile plastered upon Dix's usually somber face.
"Oh, nothing," I said, grasping the large address file Dix had given me. "We're just talking."
"Really?" Alec smiled at me.
"Really," I replied, looking at Dix out of the corner of my eye. I glanced up at my brother. "You're ready to go?"
Alec pushed himself off the doorjamb. "I'm ready." He walked out of Dix's room and I started to follow when Dix grasped my arm. Pulling me to face him, I felt a shiver go down my spine as Dix's face took an extremely serious countenance.
"Dix, what's wrong?" I asked.
The trans-human glanced in the direction my brother had left and said, "Bobbie, you might want to tell Alec that there is serious dissatisfaction within the ranks."
"What do you mean?" I knew very well what Dix meant, but I wanted to hear him say it. Pursing his lips, the transgenic stated, "If your brother doesn't do something soon, there just might be a coup right here in Terminal City."
"A coup?" I repeated. "Where did you get that idea?"
"From Mole."
"Mole? He thinks he can take over as leader?" I had to stifle a snort. I liked the lizard guy, but leader material he was not.
Dix shook his head. "Not him. None of the trans-humans want Mole as leader even if he is our kind." He eyed me with a pointed look. I stared back at him. Heaving a sigh, Dix continued, "They want someone else. X5-494. Your brother."
"Alec?" I said, with a raise of my eyebrows. "You guys want Alec as your leader? Why?"
Dix rolled his eyes at me. "Bobbie, do I have to recount to you the countless times your brother has stepped up to the plate and Max has not? Do I have to tell you that as mediator for the Council, Alec has made many friends trans-human and X-series alike? My goodness, at this point, Terminal City is practically run by Alec. Max is a figure-head." I sighed and rubbed my temples. It was true. Every word of what Dix said was true.
"Okay, and you're telling me this because?" I prompted.
"Because I don't want you and Alec to wake up one day and turn on the news and find out that Max has been deposed and Alec has been made leader," Dix gave a little shudder of disgust. "I'd rather this was settled in an election."
"All right," I said. "I'll tell him. How long do we have?"
"My guess," said Dix, "A month, tops."
"That's not much time. Then again, this has been building up for years." I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "Thanks, Dix. Remember to send down the books I want."
"Of course. You'll get them tomorrow." Dix led me out of his room. As he closed the door, I sighed again.
"Hey, Bobbie," said Alec. I turned around to see my brother leaning against the wall. "What took you so long?"
"Alec, we need to talk," I said stepping next to him.
Looking confused, he said, "Okay, but can this wait till later? The training session's starting in fifteen minutes and you did say you wanted to train today." I looked at my watch and cursed under my breath. He was right. The X5 training session was going to start at one in the afternoon and it was already twelve forty-five.
"All right," I said, following Alec down the stairs. "But we need to talk." The gymnasium where all of the transgenics practiced fighting techniques was located in a building to the left of the central building at Terminal City. It was a former Bally Total Fitness Center. Alec and I changed into our training clothes in separate changing rooms. X5's usually trained in the main gym room that used to be the aerobics room when the ordinaries had run of Terminal City.
I pulled my hair into a ponytail as Alec pulled up a blue exercise mat and set it before me. "Bobbie, I'm feeling good. I think today is the day I'm going to kick your ass." Alec gave me a grin as he positioned himself in a fighting stance.
I gave my brother a wicked glance as I sneered, "You wish. I'm your big sister. It stands to reason that I can kick your ass because I'm older and wiser." Alec's leg shot out and I felt to the mat with a thud. He smirked at me as I kicked him in the stomach with both of my legs. I jumped up as he fell to the ground. Alec flipped up quickly and we stood facing each other, fists held high. My brother's eyes flashed with determination as he threw a right hand jab, which I ducked and threw my fist into his stomach. Alec groaned as I rolled out of his way. I had both my hands and knees planted to the floor as I watched my brother recover from my punch. As soon as he looked ready to resume sparring, I sprang to my feet. Hands balled into fists, I taunted, "Come on, Alec. Is that all you've got?"
"No," my brother replied with a grin. "I'm just getting warmed up." With that, he did a roundhouse kick, his foot catching me in the stomach, and knocked me down to the ground. As I tried to regain my breath, Alec put an arm around my neck and pulled me up. My hands flew to my neck, grasping Alec's strong hands. I gasped as my back pressed against Alec's front.
"Say uncle, Bobbie?" asked Alec, adding a little pressure to my neck.
"Never," I managed to gasp out as I grabbed my brother's hand that was over my neck and yanked it so that he flipped over my back. As he crashed to the mat, I rubbed my sore throat.
I grinned at him as I crowed, "Did I just kick your ass? Yes, I do believe I did." Alec swept a leg under mine and I easily flipped out of his way. He jumped up and threw a punch as I was regaining my balance. I fell to the mat again and started to raise my leg to sweep my brother's foot from under him, but he grabbed my foot and held it. Annoyed, I performed a backwards roll, causing my brother to flip over with me. As I was prepared to jump up again, Alec grabbed my legs and pulled, causing me to fall flat on my face.
"Ow!" I yelled, raising my head and pressing a hand to my sore nose. "That hurt, you jerk!"
"Bobbie, pain is only a phantom of the mind," said Alec sanctimoniously. I didn't have to look at him to know that he had a smart-assed grin on his face.
"Oh shut up, you ass!" I snapped. "Phantom this!" With that, I twisted in the air, using my feet to hit Alec in the shoulder, causing him to fall sideways to the mat. Rubbing my sore nose, I pressed my face against his and said, "Alec, don't mock me. You won't like what happens when you mock me." For several minutes we stared at each other, breathing heavily.
"You done?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. He smiled as I reached out and pulled him up.
"Bobbie, that was good. You're a little weak on the left foot. You favor your right leg way too much when you kick and it's way too obvious when you're fighting." Alec rubbed his injured shoulder and winced. Looking concerned, I walked up to him to take a closer look.
Shaking my head, I scolded, "Alec, how many times are you going to get that damned shoulder hurt?"
"I don't know," he said, looking at his injured right shoulder again. "Every time I try to protect it, it gets hurt. Sometimes I think it's fate, I'm just destined to get hurt in the shoulder. At least it's better than getting hurt in another, more vital part of my anatomy. " He winced as he recalled a more painful injury he had sustained, most likely at the hands of Max.
"Well, whatever it is, it's not good," I said, walking over to the first aid section of the training room. Alec followed me as I picked up an ice pack and pressed it to his sore shoulder.
"I'll say," Alec winced some more as he shifted the ice-pack further down his arm. "Next time, let me win."
"All right," I said with a grin. "I could use a little loser-time. Keeps me on my toes."
"Yeah, it does," Alec looked a bit sickly as he continued to press the ice- pack against his shoulder. He closed his eyes as I noticed that his hands were trembling.
"Alec?" I asked, looking concerned. "Are you okay?" Alec paled as he looked at me. Both of his arms were trembling. No. Dear God, no.
"B-b-bobbie," he said, his entire body shaking violently now. "My pills.they're in the--,"Alec stopped as he fell to the floor, seizing.
"Oh, damn," I muttered as I ran over to the men's changing room. Ignoring the towel-clad, yet very muscular X5 males yelling in surprise as I entered their room, I searched for Alec's locker and quickly dialed the combination number. Once it was open, I yanked out Alec's leather jacket and searched for the tryptophan bottle. Finding it quickly, I dropped the jacket and ran back into the training room. A small crowd of X5s was huddled over my brother. Louise, dressed in her starched nurse's uniform, was bent over my brother, pressing a cool glass of milk to his lips.
"There, there," she crooned as my brother's head banged against the floor. Opening the bottle, I pulled out two pills and pressed them into his mouth. Louise pulled out a tongue depressor and pressed it against Alec's tongue. Droplets of saliva dribbled out of the side of Alec's mouth. I coaxed my brother's throat to swallow the pills. I didn't have to look into his eyes to see the fear in them.
"Come on. Come on," I muttered, waiting for the shakes to subside. After what seemed like forever, the shaking stopped and my brother closed his eyes in slumber. I fell away from him exhausted as the TC medical team picked Alec up and put him into their gurney. Louise looked at me sympathetically. "He'll be awake in a few hours. Do you want something?"
"No," I whispered. "Just get him comfortable." The crowd of X5s who had gathered around to watch Alec's seizure, now dispersed, leaving me slumped on the ground, pulling my knees to my chest.
"Bobbie?" I looked up to see Max striding up to me, with a confused look on her face. "What happened?"
"Seizure," I answered, slightly surprised by how hoarse my voice was at the moment. "Alec had a seizure and he's in the infirmary."
"God," said Max, setting down beside me. "Is he okay?"
"He will be," I said. "Louise says he'll wake up in a few hours."
"God," said Max again. "I hate seizures."
"So do I, Max," I said, closing my eyes and putting my head on my knees.
Max pressed a hand to my shoulder and said, "Come on. Let's go. Alec needs us." I nodded and stood up. Taking a moment to glance at the X5s who had gone back to training, I followed Max out of the gym and walked towards the infirmary.
"Hey everyone," I greeted, while walking into Terminal City. The few transgenics that were up this morning glanced up and waved.
"Hey, Bobbie," said Luke as he looked up from the surveillance system he was repairing. "Who's that?" Using a monkey wrench, Luke pointed at Bree who followed me from behind.
Turning to Bree, I said, "Luke, Bree. Bree, Luke."
"Hey," the two greeted as I looked around the conference hall for Alec. Setting his monkey wrench to the floor, Luke held out a hand and Bree nervously shook it. Giving her a bashful smile, he asked, "You're from Alec's old unit, right? Like Bobbie?"
"Yeah," Bree replied with a smile. "I think I've seen you around."
Luke puffed up his chest with pride, "If you were doing trench warfare, I was the guy digging the trenches."
"That must have been so difficult," said Bree with a sympathetic smile. "Those trenches were horrible when it rained."
"Hey Luke," I asked. "Where's Alec?"
"Alec?" Luke echoed. "He's in the infirmary with Louise. One of the kids who got injured last night is having a rough time."
"Is he going to make it?"
Luke shrugged. "Don't know. I heard from Connie that he got beat up pretty bad."
"Beat up?" I asked, furrowing my brow. "Did familiars attack the group?"
"Maybe," said Luke. I glanced over to the mess hall, where Benny, the main cook was yelling at an X4 and waving his spatula in the air. The little X4 looked as though she was about collapse on the floor, her body trembling so visibly.
I turned to Luke and Bree, "Okay. Luke, you take Bree over to the mess hall. Introduce her to Benny and tell him he's hiring a new cook."
Luke blanched. "Aw jeez, Bobbie, I don't know," he said. "Benny doesn't take too kindly with someone poaching his territory."
"I don't care," I snapped. "Benny's food stinks. Has been for a long time. Bree's a good cook. He can have my word on that. If not, Bree, you show that transgenic how to cook something besides meat and potatoes and chicken florentine." With that, I marched off to the infirmary.
The infirmary was small building located on the street behind the main building of TC. Giving Connie, the receptionist, a quick greeting, I asked her which room my brother was in with the injured X6. She directed me to a room that was on the second floor. Louise was making one of the beds while Alec sat by a transgenic whose arms and head were bandaged. I walked over to my brother and tapped him on the shoulder. Alec woke with a start, his hazel eyes looking blearily up at me.
"Rise and shine, little brother," I said, glancing over at the transgenic lying on the bed. He could have been no more than twenty-two years old. Odd, how he looked so young when I was just three years older than him.
"How's he doing?" I asked as Alec heaved a sigh and rubbed his eyes.
Shaking his head, he answered, "Louise says he's going to make it. It's nothing a few months of rest won't cure, but.God! Bobbie, he's so young!"
"He's an X6. It's what he was made to do. Recon and other stuff."
"Yeah," breathed Alec, rubbing the nape of his neck. "The team only made it with one box of tryptophan."
"That's only one hundred bottles," I said. "Not enough to supply the X5's around here."
"We're running low on the pills," said Alec, a worried cast overshadowing his face. "My bet is that over half of the X5's around here have at least one bottle left before our group starts having seizures."
"That's not good."
"I know," said Alec, running a hand through his hair and tapping his foot impatiently against the smooth linoleum floor. "The next supply of tryptophan coming into the market won't happen for another month or so, if the market's good."
"How about you?" I asked. "How many bottles do you have left?" I only had two bottles in my medicine cabinet, but I didn't get seizures too often. Alec, on the other hand.
"One," my brother replied. "I'm good for now." I'm sure I looked worried because Alec grinned at me. "Bobbie, I'm not six years old anymore. I haven't had a bad seizure since I was a kid."
"You never know," I said warily. "I remember when you were stressed, they'd hit you so bad it was a miracle the officers didn't come and take you away."
"That's because I had you to watch my back." Alec smiled at me, trying to convince me that everything was all right despite the fear in his eyes.
He sighed. "Look, Bobbie, I promise I'll take care of myself. I'm just worried about everyone else. The X5s who have kids-they need extra bottles 'cause some of their kids have seizures too." Alec slammed a fist into his thigh. "Damn! We really needed that tryptophan."
"Do you know what prevented the group from attaining their objective?"
"Familiars," Alec replied, rubbing his forehead.
I groaned, "Figures. What do those nut-jobs want? White isn't around anymore since he got booted from the NSA. Must they resort to harassment?"
"I guess they just don't have enough fulfillment in their lives."
"I guess not," I sighed, looking back at the sleeping X6. "Poor kid. He doesn't deserve this."
"He doesn't," said Alec. "Nobody does." We watched his eyes flutter open.
"What happened?" the X6 muttered, struggling to rise up.
Alec gently pushed the soldier down as he answered, "You got hurt on the mission. Almost didn't think you'd pull through." The X6 frowned at the bandages on his arm and his good hand reached up to touch the bandages covering his head. The boy swallowed hard as he looked at Alec.
"Sir," he began, "I'm sorry I failed you. I was selected leader of the reconnaissance mission and I failed. I recall that my team barely made it out with one box of tryptophan by the time we escaped from our attackers."
"It's okay--," Alec paused to look at the wounded soldier's medical chart, "Trent. You did your best. That's all I ask of you on any mission."
Trent bent down in shame as he insisted, "But sir, our attackers defeated us. We should've--,"
"Should have what?" Alec interrupted. "Should have gotten yourselves killed?" Trent looked at Alec stubbornly. My brother heaved a deep sigh as he closed his eyes for a moment. "Trent, you were fighting familiars. Those bastards are a bitch and a half to fight and you were lucky you and your team made it out alive with one box of tryptophan. If I were you, I'd get well and be thankful for what I've got."
"Yes, sir," Trent swallowed hard. He looked back up at Alec again, his face slowly swelling with pride and determination. "You can rest assured sir, that when I'm on my feet again, I'll be in training so that the next time I come against them, I won't be such an easy target."
"That's good, kid," said Alec, slapping the boy on the soldier.
"Alec. Bobbie." We looked up to see Louise standing over us, dirty bed- sheets in her hands. The female lizard looked at the X6 sympathetically before turning to us. "Trent needs his rest now. I'm afraid you have to leave."
"Oh. Sure," said Alec, getting up and leading me out of the infirmary. As the infirmary door closed on us, we looked through the round window, watching Louise pull the bed-sheets a little tighter over Trent's resting form. Alec sighed as we walked back to the main building of Terminal City.
"First the attack at the piers and now this," Alec shook his head angrily. "The familiars are stepping up their attacks. They've always attacked us, but this is the first time they've attacked within a two day period."
"Think they're up to something?" I asked.
Alec looked grim as he replied, "I think so. I'm going to talk to Max about beefing up security around here. Two attacks in the space of two days is not good. Especially since they took place during supply missions."
"What do you think they want?" I asked. "What use could they have for tryptophan or blankets and light-bulbs?"
"Nothing," said Alec. "Unless they want to wipe us out by cutting off or limiting our supplies."
"Those crazy familiars," I said. "Always got something up their sleeve."
"Don't you know it," said Alec, stuffing his hands into his pockets. A lengthy pause fell between us before Alec asked, "How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine," I said, folding my arms. "Feels like my heart is going to break, but otherwise I'm of the good."
"Called him?" my brother asked.
"Yes," I replied, jumping over a sidewalk crack. "Only got his answering machine, though. He's gone to Washington, I bet."
"You don't know that," said Alec, as he waved to an X5 who was sweeping the debris around her small house. The X5 female smiled broadly at him. Alec smiled back as the woman proceeded to pull down her shirt, revealing her ample cleavage. Alec grinned broadly as he stopped to stare at the woman exposing herself. The X5 pouted as she turned around and wiggled her hips on her way back into her house.
"Will you for the love of God, quit being a pig!" I scolded, wrinkling my nose in disgust at the display.
Alec turned to me, "Bobbie, I can't help it if women adore me."
I rolled my eyes, "Yes, women really love it when guys stare at their boobs. You looked like a perv."
Alec put his arm around my shoulder. "Bobbie, I'm a guy and a guy has needs."
"I so don't want to hear this," I said, pushing my brother away from me. He cackled as I rolled my eyes again and continued, "Anyway, as I was saying, Alec, as much as Peter likes to make himself the mama's boy, he barely goes to church in the morning," I scowled as the memory of Mrs. Gardener popped into my head. "My guess is, he's headed to Washington and cheering on the Congressmen supporting the bill."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Bobbie." Alec looked at me sympathetically.
Shrugging, I said, "Don't be. What's done is done. Peter and I are--," I paused before going on, "--over. His answering machine all but confirmed it." I felt a hard lump in my throat and kept my eyes facing the ground so that I wouldn't give in to the urge to cry.
Alec stepped in front of me to wrap an arm around my shoulder again. "I heard that norm females do this kind of post-break-up ritual with a little ice-cream and chick flicks." I eyed my brother warily.
"Alec, you can't stand chick flicks," I said.
Alec pretended to look offended. "Hey, I'm man enough to admit that I'm in touch with my feminine side."
"Oh really?" I asked with a grin, "Then what about the time when we watched Titanic together and you laughed when the boat sank?"
"It was funny!" Alec cried, a smile broadening his lips. I gave him a mock glare. "Oh, Bobbie, come on! You have to admit that it was funny when Leo DiCraprio was all pale and blue and Rose kept saying, 'hold on, Jack! Hold on!' as he sank to the depths below."
"It was supposed to make you cry!"
"So says the girl who cries at the drop of a hat."
"I do not!"
"Yes, you do," Alec grinned at me, showing me that he was having way too much fun at my expense. "You cried at Steel Magnolias!"
"The woman was dying from cancer!" As much as I tried to look serious and mournful, I couldn't help giggling.
We walked leisurely for a bit before resuming our quickened paces when we saw the central building of TC coming closer to us.
Alec clapped his hands together in a determined fashion. "All right, Bobbie, I'm going to need you to start asking the X5 ladies how many bottles of tryptophan they have in their households. Make sure you ask if they're pregnant or not. I need to know which women have absolute need for extra bottles and which ones don't."
"All right then," I replied. "You want me to go into the women's lodge? Most of them are in heat, but some might be in the late stages and they might be able to give me a coherent answer." Alec nodded.
"That's a good idea," he said, rubbing his thumb against his lip. "What else? I'll ask Louise if she has any tryptophan bottles in the infirmary supply. They're only for emergencies, but this rates as an emergency."
"Okay," I said as we walked past the main doors of the central building of TC. "When are you going to hold a meeting? You need to tell Dix so he can start writing the memos for Luke to deliver."
"I'll tell him myself," said Alec. He walked up a flight of stairs that led to the second floor. Walking past several rooms until we stood in front of Room 211, Alec knocked rapidly on the door.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Dix's impatient voice came through the door. As he opened the door, Dix looked at us with tired eyes as he asked, "What can I do for you?" Alec stepped into the room, which was once an office. Piles of old, dusty books lay on the desks of several empty cubicles. I followed Alec into Dix's room as Dix led us to what was once an executive's office. A small bed rested against the wall, while an ornate desk was covered with more dusty tomes.
"Want some coffee?" the small trans-human asked, walking over to the espresso machine resting on a table opposite his bed. "It's pretty bad, but not as bad as Benny's stuff." Dix proceeded to pour himself a cup and took a deep sip before setting it to the night table.
Alec shook his head as he said, "Dix. We've got a problem."
"Really?" The trans-human asked, folding his arms and leaning against his bed. "Does it have something to do with the failed tryptophan pick-up?"
"Yes," said Alec. "The X5s in Terminal City? I need to know how many bottles we have in reserve. Bobbie's asking the females about their supply, but I need you to give her their addresses."
"All right, Alec," said Dix. "I've got them in the filing cabinet outside."
Alec nodded, looking pleased. "Good. Good. Another thing, I'm asking for a private Council Meeting tonight. There have been some important changes in the last twenty-four hours we need to address."
"What kind of changes?" Dix asked, a little curious now. Alec waved a hand.
"You'll find out tonight. Just write up a memo and have Luke deliver it to the council members by three this afternoon."
Dix nodded. "That's doable. Come on, Bobbie, I'll give you a partial list of the addresses you need." Dix led me to another small office in his room that held nothing but rows and rows of file cabinets. Glancing at each cabinet, Dix muttered under his breath until he finally found what he was looking for in the farthest corner of the files and records room. Pulling out a thick folder marked X5 addresses, he handed them to me apologetically.
"I'm sorry about the state of the room," he said, re-adjusting the monocle over his left eye. "Luke and I are taking up a project where we'll be scanning the records into a main computer. We're far from finished, so there's only a partial list of addresses in that file. The rest are still being uploaded into the computer." I smiled at the little transgenic as I opened up the file to see a list of addresses.
"This is the reference index?" I asked.
Dix nodded, "Yes. That one's updated every first of the month. You only have names M-Z. The A-M list is the one being uploaded. We keep getting new arrivals every week. Not as much as the first few months after the siege, of course."
"Of course," I said, glancing over the list of names I would have to hunt down. "I can make a copy of this main list, right?"
"Yes. Yes, of course."
"Good. Then I won't need to take this list away from you and delay you from finishing up your big project."
"Hey, Dix, where's the bathroom?" Alec asked, popping his head into the room. Dix looked up at my brother and replied, "Down the hall, to your right. Here." The transgenic fished through his pants pockets and pulled out a set of keys. "These are the ones to the men's room." Dix tossed the keys to Alec, who grabbed them easily. Giving a little whistle, Alec left the room. Dix smiled as he watched Alec leave.
"Sometimes, I think Mole is right," he said in wistful tone. "Your brother would make a marvelous leader for our band of transgenics." I shot Dix a warning look. He paled a bit before back-tracking, "Of course, Max is our leader. Although, not much of one with that Logan fellow hanging around."
"You know, I don't think that's going to be much of a problem," I said with a secretive smile. Dix's eyebrows rose as he asked, "What is it? What do you know?"
"Enough," I replied with a grin. "You'll find out at the meeting tonight." Dix growled under his breath. Waving my finger at him teasingly, I said, "Now, now, now, you be nice. I just might be able to convince Susie at the mess hall to think of you as boyfriend material."
"Really?" Dix's voice was soft, now and his eyes had taken on a dreamy cast. "Has she mentioned me yet?" I smiled at him, loving how I was bringing two people together in love. I admit it. I'm a romantic sap at heart. "She's mentioned you, once or twice," I said, with a small grin. "She's just shy because of all the books you have."
Dix gave me a wide smile. "Well, I do have the largest book collection in Terminal City. Tell her that she's more than welcome to stop by and do a little reading."
"I can do better than that," I said, delighting in Dix's eyes popping wide open as he leaned close to me. "Susie's free tomorrow night and she says you can pick her up at nine when her shift's over."
"Bobbie, you're a doll!" Dix said happily. "How can I ever repay you?"
"Well, you can start by lending me some of your history books for the school," I said, eyeing the dusty tomes outside. "I'm talking the good stuff. Arthur Schlesinger. David M. Kennedy, David McCulloughs, and James Q. Wilson, those guys." Dix grasped my hand. We shook hands, sealing the deal.
"It's done," he said with a happy smile.
"What's done?" asked Alec, popping his head into the room again. Leaning against the doorjamb, he tossed the bathroom keys to Dix. Catching them, Dix put the keys into his pockets.
"What's done?" Alec asked again, noticing the big smile plastered upon Dix's usually somber face.
"Oh, nothing," I said, grasping the large address file Dix had given me. "We're just talking."
"Really?" Alec smiled at me.
"Really," I replied, looking at Dix out of the corner of my eye. I glanced up at my brother. "You're ready to go?"
Alec pushed himself off the doorjamb. "I'm ready." He walked out of Dix's room and I started to follow when Dix grasped my arm. Pulling me to face him, I felt a shiver go down my spine as Dix's face took an extremely serious countenance.
"Dix, what's wrong?" I asked.
The trans-human glanced in the direction my brother had left and said, "Bobbie, you might want to tell Alec that there is serious dissatisfaction within the ranks."
"What do you mean?" I knew very well what Dix meant, but I wanted to hear him say it. Pursing his lips, the transgenic stated, "If your brother doesn't do something soon, there just might be a coup right here in Terminal City."
"A coup?" I repeated. "Where did you get that idea?"
"From Mole."
"Mole? He thinks he can take over as leader?" I had to stifle a snort. I liked the lizard guy, but leader material he was not.
Dix shook his head. "Not him. None of the trans-humans want Mole as leader even if he is our kind." He eyed me with a pointed look. I stared back at him. Heaving a sigh, Dix continued, "They want someone else. X5-494. Your brother."
"Alec?" I said, with a raise of my eyebrows. "You guys want Alec as your leader? Why?"
Dix rolled his eyes at me. "Bobbie, do I have to recount to you the countless times your brother has stepped up to the plate and Max has not? Do I have to tell you that as mediator for the Council, Alec has made many friends trans-human and X-series alike? My goodness, at this point, Terminal City is practically run by Alec. Max is a figure-head." I sighed and rubbed my temples. It was true. Every word of what Dix said was true.
"Okay, and you're telling me this because?" I prompted.
"Because I don't want you and Alec to wake up one day and turn on the news and find out that Max has been deposed and Alec has been made leader," Dix gave a little shudder of disgust. "I'd rather this was settled in an election."
"All right," I said. "I'll tell him. How long do we have?"
"My guess," said Dix, "A month, tops."
"That's not much time. Then again, this has been building up for years." I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "Thanks, Dix. Remember to send down the books I want."
"Of course. You'll get them tomorrow." Dix led me out of his room. As he closed the door, I sighed again.
"Hey, Bobbie," said Alec. I turned around to see my brother leaning against the wall. "What took you so long?"
"Alec, we need to talk," I said stepping next to him.
Looking confused, he said, "Okay, but can this wait till later? The training session's starting in fifteen minutes and you did say you wanted to train today." I looked at my watch and cursed under my breath. He was right. The X5 training session was going to start at one in the afternoon and it was already twelve forty-five.
"All right," I said, following Alec down the stairs. "But we need to talk." The gymnasium where all of the transgenics practiced fighting techniques was located in a building to the left of the central building at Terminal City. It was a former Bally Total Fitness Center. Alec and I changed into our training clothes in separate changing rooms. X5's usually trained in the main gym room that used to be the aerobics room when the ordinaries had run of Terminal City.
I pulled my hair into a ponytail as Alec pulled up a blue exercise mat and set it before me. "Bobbie, I'm feeling good. I think today is the day I'm going to kick your ass." Alec gave me a grin as he positioned himself in a fighting stance.
I gave my brother a wicked glance as I sneered, "You wish. I'm your big sister. It stands to reason that I can kick your ass because I'm older and wiser." Alec's leg shot out and I felt to the mat with a thud. He smirked at me as I kicked him in the stomach with both of my legs. I jumped up as he fell to the ground. Alec flipped up quickly and we stood facing each other, fists held high. My brother's eyes flashed with determination as he threw a right hand jab, which I ducked and threw my fist into his stomach. Alec groaned as I rolled out of his way. I had both my hands and knees planted to the floor as I watched my brother recover from my punch. As soon as he looked ready to resume sparring, I sprang to my feet. Hands balled into fists, I taunted, "Come on, Alec. Is that all you've got?"
"No," my brother replied with a grin. "I'm just getting warmed up." With that, he did a roundhouse kick, his foot catching me in the stomach, and knocked me down to the ground. As I tried to regain my breath, Alec put an arm around my neck and pulled me up. My hands flew to my neck, grasping Alec's strong hands. I gasped as my back pressed against Alec's front.
"Say uncle, Bobbie?" asked Alec, adding a little pressure to my neck.
"Never," I managed to gasp out as I grabbed my brother's hand that was over my neck and yanked it so that he flipped over my back. As he crashed to the mat, I rubbed my sore throat.
I grinned at him as I crowed, "Did I just kick your ass? Yes, I do believe I did." Alec swept a leg under mine and I easily flipped out of his way. He jumped up and threw a punch as I was regaining my balance. I fell to the mat again and started to raise my leg to sweep my brother's foot from under him, but he grabbed my foot and held it. Annoyed, I performed a backwards roll, causing my brother to flip over with me. As I was prepared to jump up again, Alec grabbed my legs and pulled, causing me to fall flat on my face.
"Ow!" I yelled, raising my head and pressing a hand to my sore nose. "That hurt, you jerk!"
"Bobbie, pain is only a phantom of the mind," said Alec sanctimoniously. I didn't have to look at him to know that he had a smart-assed grin on his face.
"Oh shut up, you ass!" I snapped. "Phantom this!" With that, I twisted in the air, using my feet to hit Alec in the shoulder, causing him to fall sideways to the mat. Rubbing my sore nose, I pressed my face against his and said, "Alec, don't mock me. You won't like what happens when you mock me." For several minutes we stared at each other, breathing heavily.
"You done?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. He smiled as I reached out and pulled him up.
"Bobbie, that was good. You're a little weak on the left foot. You favor your right leg way too much when you kick and it's way too obvious when you're fighting." Alec rubbed his injured shoulder and winced. Looking concerned, I walked up to him to take a closer look.
Shaking my head, I scolded, "Alec, how many times are you going to get that damned shoulder hurt?"
"I don't know," he said, looking at his injured right shoulder again. "Every time I try to protect it, it gets hurt. Sometimes I think it's fate, I'm just destined to get hurt in the shoulder. At least it's better than getting hurt in another, more vital part of my anatomy. " He winced as he recalled a more painful injury he had sustained, most likely at the hands of Max.
"Well, whatever it is, it's not good," I said, walking over to the first aid section of the training room. Alec followed me as I picked up an ice pack and pressed it to his sore shoulder.
"I'll say," Alec winced some more as he shifted the ice-pack further down his arm. "Next time, let me win."
"All right," I said with a grin. "I could use a little loser-time. Keeps me on my toes."
"Yeah, it does," Alec looked a bit sickly as he continued to press the ice- pack against his shoulder. He closed his eyes as I noticed that his hands were trembling.
"Alec?" I asked, looking concerned. "Are you okay?" Alec paled as he looked at me. Both of his arms were trembling. No. Dear God, no.
"B-b-bobbie," he said, his entire body shaking violently now. "My pills.they're in the--,"Alec stopped as he fell to the floor, seizing.
"Oh, damn," I muttered as I ran over to the men's changing room. Ignoring the towel-clad, yet very muscular X5 males yelling in surprise as I entered their room, I searched for Alec's locker and quickly dialed the combination number. Once it was open, I yanked out Alec's leather jacket and searched for the tryptophan bottle. Finding it quickly, I dropped the jacket and ran back into the training room. A small crowd of X5s was huddled over my brother. Louise, dressed in her starched nurse's uniform, was bent over my brother, pressing a cool glass of milk to his lips.
"There, there," she crooned as my brother's head banged against the floor. Opening the bottle, I pulled out two pills and pressed them into his mouth. Louise pulled out a tongue depressor and pressed it against Alec's tongue. Droplets of saliva dribbled out of the side of Alec's mouth. I coaxed my brother's throat to swallow the pills. I didn't have to look into his eyes to see the fear in them.
"Come on. Come on," I muttered, waiting for the shakes to subside. After what seemed like forever, the shaking stopped and my brother closed his eyes in slumber. I fell away from him exhausted as the TC medical team picked Alec up and put him into their gurney. Louise looked at me sympathetically. "He'll be awake in a few hours. Do you want something?"
"No," I whispered. "Just get him comfortable." The crowd of X5s who had gathered around to watch Alec's seizure, now dispersed, leaving me slumped on the ground, pulling my knees to my chest.
"Bobbie?" I looked up to see Max striding up to me, with a confused look on her face. "What happened?"
"Seizure," I answered, slightly surprised by how hoarse my voice was at the moment. "Alec had a seizure and he's in the infirmary."
"God," said Max, setting down beside me. "Is he okay?"
"He will be," I said. "Louise says he'll wake up in a few hours."
"God," said Max again. "I hate seizures."
"So do I, Max," I said, closing my eyes and putting my head on my knees.
Max pressed a hand to my shoulder and said, "Come on. Let's go. Alec needs us." I nodded and stood up. Taking a moment to glance at the X5s who had gone back to training, I followed Max out of the gym and walked towards the infirmary.