Title: The Price of Envy

Arthur: Rose85

Date: 21~12~02

Summary: Faced with newly installed laws against their own kind, the Transgenics are forced to submit themselves other to Lydecker and a group of ex-Manticore employees. Moved out of Settle and into two separate bases, life for the so called freaks begins to show hope, but when the government catches onto their plight for freedom and peace, they hunt down the bases. Site 'B' is found and captured, and Max is faced with the threat of saving her family, while Alec and the rest of Site 'A' have to survive the Governments brutal methods of containing the Transgenic 'problem'

Rating: PG-13

Declaimer: I not own any of the Dark Angel Characters, they belong to James Cameron, and Fox.

A/N: I've had this on my computer for some time, and although I have several different stories in the works I had to post it, mainly to see if it's worth continuing with. Sadly I do not have the next chapter written yet; any suggestions will be most welcome.

Also I need to get into a habit of getting my entire story beta checked, but I'm so inpatient. So please forgive spelling and grammar, as I find them rather hard to get around, even with help from spell check. I will get this chapter beta checked, as my best friend has pretty much begged me to let her loose on my work, I also let BHG loose to edit and spell check, I'm giving them both a well deserved break.

Thanks...

~Rommie~

Dedicated to 'Redhead' and all Nuns...

~The Price of Envy~

~By Rommie~

He watched her, the moonlight caressing the angles of her face. Her body supported by the metal post that had once lit the city. With the loss of a defeated nation echoing throughout his hazel green eyes, Alec turned from his sister's side, and finally succumbed to the swell of tears forming in his haunted expression.

"Its over" He echoed Lydecker's words, as he retreated towards the shadows. His sisters' motionless form forced the X5 to turn back towards her inert figure. "We can't stay…"

Maybe it was the rain that added to his pleading expression, but when she turned, the sorrow flooding her brothers' eyes, only fed her growing grief. Her own eyes flickered under her long lashes, sending rivulets of tears down her sunken face. Wiping at them in a desperate attempt to save her last rays of dignity, she finally moved from her resting-place and into the arms of her waiting brother. No words were spoken as he closed the embrace, supporting her body against his rain soaked chest.

"Sir, Coronal Lydecker's window won't hold, if were going to leave, I advise we do so immediately." The laws had finally been passed, and the streets that they had once walked freely, no longer welcomed their own kind. He held his hand out, nodding in understanding towards the two X5s that had accompanied them into the rain-swollen streets. Pausing long enough to take one last look at the city that had been his home for more than two years, Alec lowered his arms, encircling his sisters' waist.

"He got what he wanted" She made no attempt to stop the shivers. Her feline DNA useless against the waters cold grasp.

"Yeah, and we let him"

~~~

"Stand down soldier"

"Were not under your command anymore! So stop with the military ballshit."

"You just don't get it, do you, they don't want you here, and they will never learn to except you. It isn't fear anymore Alec, its power. And when they break through those doors, are you going to take the first shot, because they're sure in hell aren't going to wait."

"And what... your here to solve all our problems Good old Lydecker... Come to give us our choices?"

"This isn't about choices anymore! The transgenics will be moved out of Seattle, whether through brutality or mass relocation. Alec... when the government moves in... All this... All this will come to a vicious and brutal end. Can you deal with those consequences"

"We deal with then everyday."

"I'm not going to let my kids kill them selves other false hope! It's dreaming backed by stubbiness."

"You created us Lydecker, don't like the formula."

The sounds were heard first, the unnatural movement of clumsily flesh and bone. And then the norns' eyes, glazed with so much belief that no words could stir the gun from its target.

~~~~

Jamie moved from her brothers' grasp, her fingers touching the many bruises, cuts and scrapes that imbedded his features. The crimson that had slipped through her closed fingers when the bullets had struck, and his eyes, the independence, emotion, and disobedience that had always been there, never faltering under the prospect of death. She looked towards the spot, leather, shirt and bandage hiding the damage caused.

"Does it still hurt"

"What was it Lydecker said?..."

~~~~

"Jamie don't move him!"

"I... I can't find a pulse! He doesn't have a pulse"

"Get Max... Joshua find Max. Jamie don't move him!"

"If he dies..."

The sharp intake of breath followed by flickering green eyes, Jamie watched as Alec's untrained gaze found hers. Unable to hold back, she buried herself into her brothers' crumpled body, supporting his trembling body against hers.

"It's over... " A flicker of emotion washed across his features, as Lydecker's gaze found the X5 cradled within his sisters arms. "Indestructible"

~~~~