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*Between Love and Hate*
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Spoilers: This is the fifth story in my series – if you haven't read any of my work before, you'd be best off going back to read and understand. The first story was Shattered Trusts and Whispered Confessions. The second is Remembering to Forget, the third is Events That Lead To Greatness. The most recent is the fourth story called the Longest Day (which was basically just a wrap up of some confusing things I had to sort out from previous works). This series is set after Hello Goodbye but does reveal spoilers from the rest of the season, as I incorporate it into the story.
Disclaimer: Ideas are mine based on the brilliant work of the Dark Angel team – so don't sue me! I wish I owned Alec, but I don't. So I have to settle for writing fiction about him.
Authors Note: Just a general shout out thanks to all the great readers who have been reviewing my work and totally keeping me motivated. If it weren't for you guys I wouldn't be writing this stuff. I am trying out a new style of writing in this one; let me know what you guys think.
Have fun and remember to review!
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CHAPTER TWELVE
Alec and Ben kept their eyes fixed intently on one another, the prior cocking his head in traditional fashion as he spoke through bared teeth,
"Why don't you tell her."
"Oh, I insist Alec."
"No Ben. You tell her."
Max gave an exasperated sigh, swatting Alec on the shoulder.
"Ow!"
"That didn't hurt you big baby. Now, would someone let me know what on earth is going on!"
Ben tore his gaze away from his brother, turning it to the steaming beauty between them,
"Manticore is the most advanced facility in the gene-splicing game."
"Yeah…and?"
"So a super solider facility just pops up out of nowhere? It should've at least been a blip on the radar a while ago. See an overnight deal, that's just not gonna happen."
"What does that mean? Can I have the Layman's version?"
"How do you think they got all that info in no time?"
She shook her head in confusion,
"I don't understand."
Alec stepped into her field of view, his voice eerily quiet,
"Someone sold out. Those super-soldiers, they're basically like us."
"What does all this mean Alec?"
"They're creations of Manticore."
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Mole burst into headquarters, shotgun in hand, just as Alec finished suiting up,
"Units are ready to deploy."
"Set-up?"
"Five teams of six. Only X5 and X6."
"Position?"
"Awaiting your command outside... sir."
"Affirmative... Thanks Mole."
The anomaly grunted in response, his beady eyes scanning the room as he swiftly exited the room as fast as he had entered. Alec glanced over at Ben,
"Wait for me outside... are you sure you want to come?"
Ben grinned back at him, his eyes sparkling,
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Good. Cut off all communication with Lydecker. This is our fight, not his."
"Got it. No contact between him and I until granted clearance."
"See that it doesn't happen."
Ben gave a cocky salute and raced out, leaving Max and Alec alone, as Luke hurried away to the other side of HQ muttering something incoherent about important equipment. She turned to Alec, her face crumpled and eyes shiny,
"Command your units from here. Please."
"Max I don't have a choice. This is too important for me to be making life-altering decisions sitting on my ass and listening to the action. I need to be there."
"This is no time for your bravado bullshit Alec!"
"I'm not trying to play the hero. I never asked for this – any of it. But as Luke reminded me, the animal DNA in all of us for some reason recognises me as the alpha male here – the leader of the pack. And no matter how much I dislike that, there's nothing I can do about that."
"So you're going to follow the instincts of others and go to battle – endangering your life and leadership?"
"Are you telling me you wouldn't do the same thing? I'm not sending soldiers out there into unpredictable enemy territory unless I am right there in the danger with them."
"Then let me come."
Alec let out a weary sigh, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders,
"Max, you know I cant."
"What do you mean you cant? Its real easy, all you have to do is say yes and that's it. Hell, I'll simplify it more, just nod your head once."
"Well amazingly enough in terms of us, I am saying no to you."
"I'm coming."
"No, you're not. You've been out of this game way too long. You're not skilled and trained enough to be able to partake in a fight like this."
"What? That has got to be..."
Her sentence fell short as she locked gazes with him. His angry, authoritative eyes penetrated hers and she froze, unable to speak or even look elsewhere. Finally, Alec tore away, his voice calm and steadily strong,
"You're staying here."
He gave her one last look to stop her from arguing, before picking up his P90 gun and leaving. Max shook her had in an effort to clear it and make sense of everything,
"What just happened?"
Luke walked over slowly, his arms full of communications equipment,
"He pulled rank on you."
"What? How?"
"By playing your instincts. Even you recognise him as your leader and by you arguing with him, he had to make you stop. CO's aren't supposed to be argued with Max."
"I argue with Alec all the time."
"Trivial matters which he lets you get away with because you're his girl."
"I'm not his girl."
"Whatever you say. But his instincts recognise you as his mate. There's no other reason he'd let you talk back to him."
"This is all so crazy. Typical Manticore style."
"It is the way it is. I can't believe you didn't know. Everything to do with us is primal. Instinctual. Maybe that's why we're considered animals. Alec gave you an order and our DNA compels you to recognise that and follow it."
"He's not making me do anything."
Max insisted bitterly, her eyes defiant,
"No one tells me what to do."
She stalked out in a determined manner, her face in no way demonstrating the bad feeling she was getting by doing this. Luke sighed after she left; this was going to cause a lot of fire.
He just prayed he wouldn't be the one to get burned.
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To be continued...
Author's Note:
I'm in a good mood because I have a plot for my next story and I know how this is going to end too. [Hurray! *does happy dance around George the computer* and no, I'm not weird for naming my computer.] Review please! J