A/N: OMG! I've managed another update and it hasn't been 12 months in between! Well, I hope you're still enjoying the story cause it's damn fun to write! Thanks as always to Sorrow (no tanks this time around) and to everyone who read my last chapter. Please let me know what you think ;) ~Mel

______________________________________________________________________

CHAPTER THREE - MISDIRECTION

________________________________________________________________

White sat at his desk, tapping away as he watched his cell phone in waiting. 493 should have checked in by now and if there was one thing Ames White hated, it was having to wait. Especially on a piece of transgenic scum, even if that piece of scum was going to give him what he had been longing for for so long. 452. Not forgetting 494 as a bonus. He would enjoy making sure he was actually dead this time. He'd make sure of worse for 452.

White drew himself from the delicious thoughts that coursed through his mind and focused on the phone once more, then his watch. This was unacceptable.

White picked up the phone and flipped it open.

*********************

The phone vibrated at the side of Ben's head, waking him from a somewhat disturbed slumber. He felt the girl next to him stir and realised that he should have been gone hours ago. He shouldn't have been there in the first place. What was her name again? He needed to remember…later.

He picked up the phone quickly and cancelled the call, checking that…Elli, that was her name. Making sure that Elli didn't awaken. He placed his clothes on with great speed and left the rooftop without detection. Before he hit the ground of the alley below, the phone buzzed again. He looked around briefly then answered.

**************************

"Did you just hang up on me soldier!" White pulled the phone away from his ear and held it in front of him, yelling into the receiver.

"Yes Sir."

He brought the phone back to his ear. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I said yes Sir."

"And the reason for you doing this to your Commander, especially when you were supposed to report to me twenty minutes ago, is what exactly?"

"I may have been compromised Sir."

"Well I'm sorry to catch you with your pants down 493, perhaps I was wrong and you aren't the right soldier for this job."

"No Sir, I mean yes Sir-"

White yelled. "Which is it?!"

"I am the right soldier Sir. I guarantee you that."

White snickered at 493's sudden cockiness. "Oh I see, you guarantee me. Only one day following 494 and you've already picked up his cocky bravado."

"I didn't mean to be cocky Sir, just that I am the one for the job."

"Well you will have to prove that now won't you 493?" A satisfied grin slipped across White's face.

"Yes Sir."

"So what do you have to tell me?"

*********************************

Ben's instructions were clear. He was to eliminate any possible trace of himself. If he encountered others he was to pose as the beast. If they questioned him, he was to terminate. A thought that gave Ben a distinct wave of pleasure.

But first he needed to see her. He needed to see Max.

*********************************

"Elli?" Max came running up behind her, just outside of headquarters. "Hey Elli?"

"Yeah?" Elli turned slowly with a slight roll of the eye. She and Max didn't exactly see eye to eye and she wasn't in the best mood that morning as it was.

"Hi." Max stood uncomfortably before Elli, her shoulders fidgeting slightly as she spoke. "Ah, mind if I ask you a question?"

"Since when do you ever ask Max?" Elli placed her hands on her hips.

"Was Alec with you last night?"

Elli's face scrunched at the question. "Not that it's really any of your business, but yes he was."

"Son of a bitch." Max shook her head at the not so surprising answer.

"I beg your pardon? What you finally opened your eyes and smelt the hottie and have decided it's time to get jealous?"

"God no!" Max's face creased in disgust. "Don't make me sick."

Elli shifted her feet and raised her eyebrows at Max, not at all impressed by her comments. When she spoke, her voice dripped with sarcasm. "And we wouldn't want that now would we?"

"Hey!"

Both girls turned to see Alec striding towards them. Max turned quickly to Elli. "Don't tell him I asked ok."

Elli rolled her eyes slightly and Max took off before Alec got there. Elli watched him move towards her, his eyes watching Max as she left. She humphed and turned on her heel before he got to her.

"Hey?!" Alec picked up the pace and took Elli by the arm, turning her to face him. "What's all this about? And where were you last night?"

Elli turned to him, her eyes wild with anger. "What's all this about and where was I last night?"

Alec smiled an uncomfortable smile. "Yeah…ah, is there a sudden echo?"

"You're unbelievable." Elli shook her head at him and turned to walk off again. Alec ran after her, slipping around her and stopping her from going any further.

"Hang on a sec. What's the attitude for? I know you were talking to Max, but surely she couldn't be that contagious."

Elli looked directly into his eyes. "You really are a son of a bitch, you know that?"

Alec was getting impatient and a little pissed. "No, I'm the son of a test tube. Now tell me what the hell is going on."

"Well let's see. Firstly, you left without a trace this morning, something that you've been doing much less of lately and now you're acting as if you didn't even see me last night."

"Oooh, I get it." Alec crossed his arms in front of him and chewed his cheek. "You and Max have decided to join sides. Punish Alec for not making it to the meeting. Well there was a reason for me being late and no matter what anyone says, I did get back late. Ask Toby, he can verify it. And there wouldn't be a trace of me this morning, because I wasn't there!"

"Exactly." Elli pushed Alec out of her way and moved into headquarters. Alec thought of following her again, but choose not to make a scene. Instead he balled his hands into fists and gritted his teeth together, all while taking a deep, forced breath. Sometimes one night stands were so much easier.

****************************

Ben watched her as she moved towards Elli. There was a slight hitch in his breathing as he realised that she may tell Max about the evening before. But then he relaxed again, for what would she tell him other than her night with the beast. This X5 was certainly not to the calibre of himself and Max. She would not see through him.

Disappointment seethed through Ben's body as Max's stay outside was so short. He wanted to go after her then and there, take her out if this God forsaken place.

Take her for my own.

He stopped at the thought. Such thoughts were against his mission, against his commander's wishes. But such thoughts were so easy to have. He sucked the air in and dismissed it, instead concentrating on the beast as he moved towards Elli. Now this was a lovers quarrel. He grinned in satisfaction of what he had caused.

He focused on the pair, his senses shutting out all of his surroundings. Everything was concentrated on them. He stretched his hearing as far as his ears would let him, their conversation just auditable.

He suppressed a laugh at the confusion and disarray that was growing between the pair. Then he heard it. "Toby, he can verify it."

Ben smiled. Not if he can't be found.

Toby was the one at the gate last night. The one who let 494 through. Ben mentally kicked himself for not taking care of it earlier. Ben had been surveying their headquarters all morning, so he knew that Toby had not arrived. He would have recognised him. So this left an opening.

He watched as Elli moved into headquarters, obviously pissed with 494, something that gave him great pleasure. 494 waited a few moments and then entered the building himself, greeted cheerfully by those at the door. Why these people would be so nice to such a creature was beyond Ben's comprehension.

He waited until the last member entered the building and the doors were closed. Toby had not arrived. This was good. Ben checked the area before moving from his post.

It was time to find Toby.

**************************

"Hey Alec."

Ben forced himself not to cringe. "Where's Toby today?"

"He's got the morning off. Say, what's this about you telling Max that you got back later?" Nick tapped him on the shoulder, "trying to get yourself out of trouble huh? You and Elli have some fun?"

Ben stared at the hand, his cold eyes slowing trailing up the arm it came from and looking into Nick's eyes. "Something like that. Do you know where Toby is?"

Nick took a second to answer, a little unsettled by the coldness in the air. "At his place I would imagine."

"And where is that again? I keep forgetting."

"You? Alec? Forgetting something? What happened to that steel trap of a memory." Ben's eyes turned cold again and Nick shivered. "It's over on Sharp St, fifth floor at 16."

"Good." Ben turned from him and walked away.

"Yeah man, you're welcome." Nick spoke under his breath, not wanting to push what was obviously a pissed off Alec.

*****************************

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Toby stumbled out of his bed, awoken by the constant pounding at the door. "Don't get your knickers in a knot!"

He opened the door slowly, his silver eyes still half closed, his dark brown hair messed in multiple directions, none of which formed a style. "Oh hey Alec. What's up? I'm kinda trying to get some rest here." Ben slipped inside and Toby signalled after him. "Come on in."

Toby shut the door behind him and dragged himself back into his room, grabbing a pair of jeans and slipping them on. Ben starred at him from against the wall, taking in his surroundings at the same moment. Listening for anyone else in the small space. There was no one.

"So what's the problem? Aren't you supposed to be at this morning's meeting? Cause you know Max will be majorly pissed if you miss two in a row."

Toby turned his back to Ben and searched for a shirt to wear.

"Did you tell anyone about me getting back late last night?"

"Nah man, haven't even seen anyone. Oh except when Cody took over this morning and you know that we don't exactly get along, so it was mainly grumbles and death stares that were exchanged."

"Good."

Toby bent down after he finally found a reasonably clean shirt to wear. He slipped it over his head as he spoke, "Why?" He turned to have Ben suddenly inches from his face.

"Just asking."

Ben smiled briefly and wickedly. Toby looked across to the door for a moment, suddenly feeling he may need a quick exit. He looked back, but Ben was gone.

Suddenly he felt the tug around his throat as wire tightened around his neck, pulled over him faster then his transgenic eyes could see. He reached back, attempting to grab at Ben's arms, but only scraping at air. He tried to get his footing, but there was no floor below. Somehow he had been lifted into the air. So fast, it was all so fast. He gasped and gagged, his fingers grasping towards the wire, but unable to hook under and help find any relief. He felt it then, the warm liquid beginning to pour across his hands and trail down his arms. This followed by the pain of wire, slicing further into his skin. He gave up, his arms sliding slowly down his sides, his eyes becoming vacant orbs.

Ben looked on with great satisfaction. The crimson river that flowed from neck to toe creating a buzz within his being that no other single event had done so before. He watched as each drip formed its own shape on the hard wood floor. Separate puddles forming as the blood trailed from each fingertip. He watched him lose his last breath, his final shed of life draining from his eyes. And he smiled.

His commander would be proud.

Ben was proud.

******************************

The meeting was dull to say the least and Alec wasn't the only one who thought so. Max was next to him, as usual, and he saw her head tilt every now and then, trying to fight the shut eye. Mole was going on and on about the lack of supplies and god knows what else. Give that lizard a box and he'll make soap. He could seriously go on for hours and the moans and groans wouldn't stop him. Hell they should just send him out to talk to the national guard and they would leave them be in a jiffy.

Max's eyes fluttered again and Alec watched in amusement. He leant into her and whispered. "Better watch it there Max, can't have our leader nodding off at one of her oh so important meetings."

Max's eyes shot open and she was more alert then ever. "Yeah well, we could all be like you and just turn up when it suits us."

Alec rolled his eyes and shifted a little closer, trying his hardest to keep his voice low. "I don't know why I bother with you Max. You always have these preconceived notions of me. What's the point in trying to tell you otherwise?"

"Well Alec, you're like a book with a really boring cover and all over it, it says 'Lies, Lies, Lies'."

"Open the book once in a while, you might be surprised." Alec sat back in his seat and folded his arms across his chest. He felt uncomfortable, as though someone was watching him. When he looked up he met two fiery eyes staring back at him. Elli shook her head at him and looked away. Alec moved forward once more. "What the hell did you say to Elli this morning?"

"Nothing." Max shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

"And who's the liar? I saw you talking to her earlier."

Max shifted again. "Let's just say I know why you couldn't be bothered with the meeting last night. Couldn't have you miss a night of getting laid now could we?"

"Oh look, this game that you two are playing is beyond a joke. I've told you over and over that I wasn't back till late last night, ask Toby. Just ask him okay? And I didn't spend the n-"

"Are you two quite finished?" Mole had moved behind them, undetected. "Because perhaps we could reschedule the meeting for the five minutes of the day you two aren't bickering?"

"Sorry Mole." They both spoke in unison as though they were young children in trouble at school. They sank in their seats and didn't say another word.

*********************************

Elli approached Alec at the end of the meeting, her arms crossed in front of her. She was obviously not happy. "You two having fun there?"

Alec turned to face her. "What?"

"Don't act all coy with me Alec. I can see what's going on."

Alec scratched the side of his head, "Ok, want to fill me in on it then?"

Elli's face flushed red with anger. "If you don't want this thing between us to continue, then that's all you have to say. Don't start suddenly acting like we weren't together last night and certainly don't have your new girlfriend coming up to me pissed because you did."

Alec's face scrunched in frustration, "Ah look, I'm sick of this bullshit today okay? What ever game you and Max are playing can just stop right now. I didn't spend the night with you, I went to your place, but you weren't there and unless my psycho twin is back from the dead, you damn well know you didn't see me either. I don't know why your suddenly trying to cause trouble for me, but whatever you've told Max has worked. So just leave it and leave me alone."

"Fine." Elli stared at him, her eyes cold and emotionless.

"Fine." Alec returned the look and left the room, slamming through the main doors.

*********************************

Ben returned before the meeting was out. 494 was the first to exit the building, obviously not in the best of moods. This was good for Ben, he would have no trouble following this time.

*********************************

"Everything ok between you two?" Max moved to Elli's side.

"Piss off Max."

"I'll take that as a no."

"Take it as you want, he's all yours." Elli slipped passed Max and headed for the door. Max followed her swiftly.

"Look, I overheard you before. Alec said he didn't spend last night with you."

"Well Alec's lying Max." Elli tried to keep walking away, but Max persisted.

"No surprise there, but why about that? To you?"

"My guess is a nice subtle way to end it, now do you mind leaving me alone?"

Elli spun on her toe and stared fiery eyes into Max's. Max gave her a nod, with attitude of course, and let her leave.

What the hell was Alec up to? Maybe Toby would know.

*********************************

White drove the streets of Seattle, stewing over the information 493 had delivered that morning. So he had made contact with 494's girl, mate or whatever the pieces of shit called each other. A very interesting development and the more White thought about it, the more he felt he could use it to his advantage.

He pulled over to the side of the road and removed his cell phone.

*********************************

Alec didn't bother waiting around after the meeting was finished. He'd had just about enough of everyone that morning. Instead he went straight back to his place and the whole time he had the distinct feeling he was being followed, though his inspections of the area told him otherwise. His mind was just playing tricks on him, that was all. Or was it?

Alec picked up the pace and slipped into a nearby building entrance. He hugged the brick work and tweaked his hearing. There they were. The footsteps. Getting closer. Pausing for a moment, then continuing again. Closer. Closer.

Alec shot his hand out and grabbed his tracker. He lifted them into the air, sighed and tilted his head to the side, slightly aggravated.

"I thought I told you to stop following me." The young girl looked down at him from above, her eyes laughed at him. "And don't you be laughing at me Star, I can see it in your eyes."

"But you're so funny when you're angry." She giggled as he still held her midair, her shirt tugging tightly around her back as it holstered her in place. She was light, even for an X-7. But then again Alec hadn't had a whole lot of experience with 10 year olds. But this one never seemed to want to go away.

"So why are you following me?" He let her down finally.

Star straightened her clothes as she spoke, "You look like you need to talk." She produced her hundred watt, cheeky smile that she could only have learnt from Alec.

"Right and I'm going to do that with a ten year old." Alec moved passed her and started to move off, his eyes rolling as he heard small steps scurrying after him.

"Hey buddy, I'll have you know that I hold the maturity of at least fifteen year old."

"Go home Star. I'm really not in the mood."

"Come on Alec! Don't be so grumpy. I know I can cheer you up, all you have to do is-"

"Go home!" Alec had stopped dead and turned to her, his eyes serious and harsh. Star stepped back quickly and shot her head straight to her feet.

"Ok, I'm sorry." She spoke so quietly that Alec thought she may actually cry.

"Ah shit Star," He knelt down before her and tried to catch her eyes, but she kept moving them away. "Look, I'm sorry ok? I've just had a really rough morning and I'm not in a very good mood. How about you come see me tomorrow and I'll show you the move I was telling you about?" Alec motioned the combat move through the air and dug a hand into Star's waist. "Whaddaya say huh?"

She tried her hardest not to laugh, but she couldn't hold it in. She looked up at him, smile beaming across her face. "You promise?"

"Sure do." Alec confirmed his words with a nod.

"Well alright then. But remember, if you still need that talk…"

"I know where to find you." Alec rose to his feet and gave her a wink.

"See ya tomorrow." And Star was gone.

Alec sighed and continued his journey home.

**********************************

Ben moved swiftly and silently, watching the beast as he ventured through the city. They were not in the same area as last night, the were nearer to when Ben had been earlier that morning. Near Toby's place. Perhaps this was where 494 lived?

Ben felt the phone vibrate in his pocket and looked for a secure location to slip into. He took one more glance towards 494, seeing him still heading into the same direction and slipped into a side alley.

He flipped the phone open and lifted it to his ear, speaking softly into the receiver. "Yes Sir?"

Ben nodded his head as he listened to his instructions. "Very well Sir."

He closed the phone and returned the it to his pocket. He glanced out from the alleyway. 494 was nowhere in sight. Shit! Then he saw him, moving out from a nearby building. Ben quickly pulled his head back into the alley and waited. It would be easy enough to continue tracking him from here.

After a minute or so, Ben moved out from the alleyway. He suddenly felt something slam into his body, or was it someone. He looked down to see a young girl, probably an X-7 looking up at him. She smiled at him and giggled.

"Alec, how'd you get across here that fast?"

Ben smiled back at her and offered his hand. "Talent."

__________________________________________________________________

Sugar, cherries and ice cream!

Please review!