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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 FIFTEENMax pursed her lips in annoyance at the soldier aiming the gun at her. She glared at them suspiciously, gasping as her capture tugged off her mask to reveal and eerily familiar face,
"Not you again! I see enough of you as it is."
The soldier remained expressionless, the gun trained on Max, despite her being securely shackled to a steely pole. Max gave another gasp as a cloaked figure sauntered up to her, pulling back the hood to reveal a platinum head of pure evil.
"Renfro!"
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The old woman smiled cockily at Max, her eyes glinting,
"452. Nice to see you too. I can see you're already acquainted with NK47B here. Must be a strange feeling to know that younger versions of you can kick your transgenic ass."
"I thought I killed you, you psychotic bitch. But I shoulda figured you'd have been the one to steal and sell Manticore data."
"I'm like a cat 452. I have many lives. As for the data, I only stole one file, one which I was one of two who knew about it. Yours. We'd known about your amazing DNA since you were born. It became amazingly difficult for me to keep it secret. I had to eliminate anyone who discovered you had no junk DNA. The only other person who knew was Deck. And honestly, he'll never be considered a threat."
"But why?"
"Let's call Manticore the experimental phase. What happens here is the perfect version of what should have happened there."
Max rolled her eyes, shifting uncomfortably again. The younger version of her kept the gun trained on her and Renfro smiled again,
"Don't even think about it 452. I never killed you in the past because I needed you to take out the familiars. But rumour is you've accomplished that and so now, I wont hesitate."
"Don't believe everything you hear."
"After what your friends have done to my compound today, you will pay."
"Sorry I forgot my bankcard. Is credit okay?"
"I always did like the concept of testing a transgenic's pain threshold."
She gulped at the older woman's words, yet kept her eyes and face emotionless. She didn't want Renfro to carry out that threat – she just prayed that Alec would come for her.
*But how can he, when he doesn't know you're here? You never should've disobeyed him!*
The things she got herself into.
She really should've listened to Alec when he told her not to come.
And now, she was going to die.
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"Alpha One, come in. What is your status?"
Alec's headpiece crackled to life and he jumped, before sliding into the driver's seat of his van,
"Headquarters, this is Alpha One. All other teams are on route back to TC. Explosives have been planted around the compound. We only need to set one off, which will cause a chain reaction. The place will be ashes within 12 minutes."
"Confirmed. Nice work."
"Detonation in three... two... one..."
A loud boom filled the air and Alec grinned at Ben, starting the engine as he spoke,
"Luke, put Max on a minute, there's something I need her to do."
"She's not here."
"What?"
"I thought you knew."
"Knew what?"
"She's with you guys."
"No she's not!"
"Yeah Alec, she is."
He stopped the van immediately, his blood running cold,
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
He hit the steering wheel in frustration,
"Crap! Luke, what if she's inside? We just set off the first bomb."
He could hear the panic in Luke's voice as he answered,
"Then you've got less than 12 minutes to get in there and save her."
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Fire exploded out of a building nearby, as Alec struggled out of his thick jacket. Ben looked over at him, obvious alarm written all over his face,
"You can't do this."
"Like I have a choice."
"There's always a choice."
"Not this time, there isn't Ben."
"You don't even know if Max is in there. It's suicide!"
"Maybe. But I have to make sure she isn't in there. I love her."
"I know. But..."
"But nothing. That's it then. It's settled. If I'm not back in ten minutes, get out of here, save yourselves. And them."
Alec looked back at the rest of the Alpha One unit, giving them a brave smile, before stepping out and sliding the door shut after him.
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Max jumped as fire roared around her. She looked over at her clone that was holding her prisoner – she was busy looking out the window, weighing up the options of what she should do. Renfro had run off, telling her to stay and wait until further notice, but as the fire spread intensely and the heat grew by the second, it was obvious this super-soldier was starting to worry.
Max shifted awkwardly in her shackles, chained to the wall. Her transgenic ears pricked at the repetitive sounds of explosions and she sighed – how on earth was she going to get out of here?
Well she sure as hell wasn't going to sit here and wait for death's icy grip.
She was fighter.
She wasn't going to embrace death.
That wasn't how she was going to die.
Not a chance.
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To be continued...
Author's Note:
A bit more Max than usual, coz I know she is supposed to be the main character. Wait and see what happens, its pretty crazy... oops I said too much. Review please!