A/N: Thank you so much Inf for checking this out for me. You are the best! And to all the people who read this and especially those of you who review. (Sorry this took so long- again!)
Tough Call ArrangementsThe petite girl walked into a dust covered room and glanced around at its occupants.
"Hey, guys! Guess who's got a new identity?" She winked at the boy and the girl that came running towards her.
"Really?"
"Cool!"
"Who are you now?"
"I am now: Regina Winthorp." She announced with a smile.
"Are you sure there won't be any trouble?" The boy asked.
"Relax, 331, I know what I'm doing, okay? The woman is like a thousand years old. She can barely walk. I doubt she ever leaves the house." She said smugly. "Besides... a new identity is not all I got from her."
The other two were immediately asking her what else, their eager eyes intent on her. Regina laughed to herself. Cat DNA!
"Well, I acted all nice and friendly and ... I scored five –FIVE- bucks!"
She produced a bag from her backpack and dangled it, smiling at their wide eyed expressions. Warm food. None of them, including Regina, could remember the last time they'd had any.
They sat down reverently around the small boxes of Chinese food and after nodding together, they started to eat, relishing every bite.
Regina smiled at how easy it was to keep X6s happy.
"Hey, Alec! Got a sec?"
Alec took his eyes away from the inside of his locker only long enough to glance at Biggs. "Yeah?"
"Listen, I was wondering... The last time I was here I saw that your apartment was empty... and I was wondering if it would be okay with you, if I… you know.. crashed there."
"Sure, no problem." When Biggs didn't move away and continued to look at him, Alec had to take a deep breath. *All right, 494. Focus. What are you missing? ... Right!* "So, maybe Ralph could stay with you? I mean, it's a big apartment..." Do we need you to keep an eye on her?
"I don't know... If you say so.." I don't think so. Your call.
"Like hell she will!" OC interrupted, making both men turn to look at her.
"I'm sorry?" Biggs asked, a little startled. Alec just looked at her questioningly.
"I assume this Ralph you are talking about is blondie over there? Well, Original Cindy is not having any of that!" She shook her head vehemently.
"Uhm... Cindy?" Alec raised his left eyebrow.
"Well, I ain't letting this one here alone with that little girl!"
Biggs' eyes narrowed. "Look, lady, I don't know what the hell you've got against me, but I would never, ever hurt that kid!"
OC didn't back down, "Oh! And I guess I'm supposed to take your word on that, huh?"
"People!" Alec stepped in, without raising his voice. "I understand there's no reason why you should trust someone you don't know, but let's not make accusations either." He was too tired for this. "Please?" He added, looking at the brunette, who did not look convinced at all but seemed willing to go along with him for the time being. He turned to look at Biggs. His friend caught the words he had not said: Focus, soldier. He nodded his understanding, a little embarrassed.
"Fine, but what's it gonna be?" She put her hand on her hip and tapped her foot.
"Well... you think she can stay with her and Max?" Biggs asked, signaling OC. "But, I mean, there's no need for them to be all uncomfortable, right?" I'm really not crazy about that idea.
Alec shook his head and said firmly. "No, there is not enough room there." I'm not leaving her alone with Max. "Well... she could always stay with me and Joshua..."
Biggs looked at him, "Joshua? Is that the big dog-guy you told me about?" He put a slight emphasis on the word 'big'.
"Yep."
"Good." Biggs nodded his agreement, acknowledging the end of their silent exchange. A big guy to watch over her was just fine by him. "I'll go tell her." With that, he left them alone.
"You know what, suga'? I think there's something else that's not good about your sleeping arrangement..."
"Oh?"
"Well, Max said something to me earlier… about you and some girl? And then you showed up with this Ralph, so I guess she's the same person. And… I don't think you living with her is gonna help you get into m'girl's good graces."
For an instant she thought she saw a spark in his eyes, but it was immediately gone and she wasn't sure. He nodded. He'd already decided he couldn't stay with Ralph and Joshua, but for a different reason.
"I guess you're right."
"Will you be okay staying with him?" They were both looking at Biggs now.
Alec turned to look at her. "He's a pretty good guy, you know?"
"Sorry, Boo, but he's gonna have to prove that to Original Cindy, cause all I know about him so far is whenever he is around, there's trouble."
"He will." Was all Alec could say. He should have argued a little more, say it was not Biggs' fault. He should be taking care of other things as well. His mind just wasn't into it.
He took another deep breath, shaking his head, and trying to clear his thoughts.
He felt an arm around his waist and he rested his chin on the top of her head. "Everything will be okay, boo." She said softly. Alec was not sure which of them she was trying to convince.
"I know it will. It's about time my luck started to change a bit, don't you think?"
She nodded and squeezed him one last time, before letting go of him. "Tonight at Crash." When he was about to protest, she shook her head firmly. "Be there." She left.
He watched her go while walking over to Biggs, his demeanor back to his usual carefree self. "Hey, buddy, guess what? We're gonna be roomies again."
OC was deep in thought when she heard the door open. She raised her head.
"Hey, boo." She said, her eyes searching Max's face. She found nothing. She stood up and went to her. "Are you aiight, boo?" When she didn't get an answer, she asked. "You want to tell Original Cindy about it?"
"No." But then, seeing her friend's concerned face, she added, "I'm okay, Cindy. Really."
"Aiight, honey, if you say so..." She could see something had changed in her friend. She seemed calmer, stronger somehow. OC hesitated for a second, but then she also saw the hurt buried deep down in those big brown eyes. And she got her resolve back.
"Are you coming to Crash with me tonight?"
"I..." Max started to shake her head, but seemed to change her mind. "Sure, why not?" She said, raising her chin.
OC smiled. "That's my boo!"
"So... These people belong to a five thousand years old cult, they don't feel pain, they are as strong as we are and they want to wipe us off of the face of the earth. That about it?" They had already dropped Ralph at Joshua's.
"Er.. yeah." Alec had to smile despite himself. He liked having Biggs around. Ironically enough, he was a nice distraction. "And from what you told me, they can also 'smell' us."
Biggs nodded. "And they call us freaks!" he said, throwing up his hands.
"I know!" Alec rolled his eyes.
They came out of the stairs and walked down the corridor smiling and shaking their heads. As they approached door number Four they both turned serious and stopped walking at the same time. They exchanged a look and Alec dropped his bag on the floor, taking his gun out and checking it efficiently. Biggs' belongings suffered a similar fate, before he walked back the way they had come from until he reached a window and exited through it.
Alec moved to the door, and after listening carefully, he opened the door and pointed his gun at the guy standing near the door to the bathroom.
"Don't move." He said softly, purposefully cocking the gun so it sounded loud and clear.
"Alec?" The guy asked.
Alec frowned. "Logan?" He lowered his gun. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Pass me that, will you?" Max asked extending her hand. When, after a couple of seconds nothing happened, she turned around, her other hand still holding her hair against the top of her head. She grabbed the brush from the small table beside her friend, who continued to look into space, frowning.
She turned back to the mirror, but kept an eye on OC's reflection. "Are you all right, girlfriend?" she asked after a while.
OC seemed to snap out of a trance and she looked at Max in the mirror. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little worried, that's all."
Max's eyes were shuttered. "If you are worried about me, don't be."
"Huh? Oh, no! Well, yes, I am, but that ain't what I was thinking 'bout." She had to bite her lip not to laugh at Max's disoriented expression. She loved her friend, but a little bit of that self-centeredness she could do without.
"Ok, what is it then?" Max asked warily.
"Ralph."
"Ralph?" That caught her off-guard. "Who is Ralph?"
OC raised her eyebrows. "Cute little blond thing, beautiful eyes?" When Max continued to stare at her she threw her hands up. "She was at Jam Pony today. I didn't talk to her much, but she said you knew her?"
She watched Max concentrate, no doubt trying to remember. "Ralph!" She exclaimed suddenly. "X6 Ralph?"
"Um… X6? Well, see I didn't ask her. But If that is a Manticore thing, then yep. Cause that kid is definitely Manticore."
Max continued to shake her head. "She was there today! I didn't even say hi to her!" She started to pace, her hair tumbling down, completely forgotten. "I can't believe it! I didn't even see her! And why? Because of those stupid, idiot ... Ugh! Never mind." She suddenly stopped and asked. "Why the hell do we put up with men?"
"Don't be asking me, sweetheart" OC chuckled. "Cause I have nooo idea!"
Max shook her head and went back to the mirror, running the brush furiously through her hair and muttering about the worthlessness of all men. OC just looked at her.
"Oh, right!" Max said suddenly. "You said you were worried about Ralph! Why? Is something wrong with her? What happened? Did those idiots do something to her? Cause if they did, I'm gonna..."
"Whoa! Wait up! Nothing is wrong with her. Not yet. I just don't like this one damn bit."
"What?"
"Well, you see, she needed a place to stay. So did that guy Biggs. So Alec suggested they use his old apartment, seeing as it is empty an' all... But naturally, I said no. We can't have that little kid living alone with a guy. So Alec said maybe he could move back to his old place with Biggs and Ralph could stay with Joshua..."
Max ignored the jab of pain she felt at every mention of his name and focused on what her friend was saying. "Sounds like a plan to me... What's the problem?"
"What's the problem? Boo, it was bad enough when Doggie-dog was living alone, but now? It's like leaving not one, but two children alone in the house! Who's gonna look after them? See that they don't get in trouble?"
"You're right! That jerk! He couldn't for once do the right thing and stay with them! No! He had to go live with his 'buddy'!"
"And would you rather he stayed there with them? Come on, boo!"
"Yeah. You've got a point. He'd be worse than the other two put together."
OC remained silent.
"... And I don't know how, but they traced me. And here I am." Logan finished, looking at the two men in front of him.
He'd almost had a heart attack when Alec had come bursting through the door. And nearly did again when, after a curt nod from the X5, another guy had come in through the window. Knowing someone had been training a gun at him the whole time without him realizing it had done nothing to soothe his already raw nerves.
"Er... Sorry, pal. But any one of us could have traced you. It's not that hard." The dark haired guy was telling him.
He didn't like this one any more than he had ever liked Alec. Or any of the other X5s he had met so far. With the exception of Max, of course. And he wasn't even sure about that anymore. Every one of them was cocky, arrogant, sure of themselves, determined... This latest one had just come in with a gun held loosely in his hand and looked Logan straight in the eyes. "So.. this is the great Eyes Only, huh?" He'd said, before walking out the front door. Logan had looked accusingly at Alec. "Can't you even keep a secret?" Not that he was really surprised. Max's siblings had always been like that as well. "He didn't need to tell me." - Biggs had said, coming back in with two large bags in his hands- which had almost caused Logan to have another stroke- and closing the door behind him - "I have eyes. And I've seen your eyes on TV enough times to recognize them"
"Why here?" Alec's question brought him back to the present.
"Not like I could go to Max's... or Joshua's." He answered, looking at Alec pointedly, not missing how his eyes narrowed at the mention of Max. "And I knew this place was empty, so..."
"You thought your good friend Alec wouldn't mind you borrowing it, huh?" Alec asked, raising an eyebrow.
"And, guess what? It's not empty anymore." Biggs announced cheerfully, looking at the bags he'd dropped on the floor. He didn't know what the deal was, but Alec was making no effort to hide his disdain towards this Logan fellow. And if Alec didn't like him, then Biggs felt no need to spare the guy's feelings. He'd never had that much respect for ordinaries anyway. "*I* am staying here," he said, "and so is Alec." He watched Logan's face turn into a mask of despair. He felt a little, tiny bit bad for the guy. He stole a glance at Alec's profile, but his friend remained impassive, just looking at the norm. "Don't you have like… friends or something?" he asked Logan. When he got no answer, he rolled his eyes. "Okay... What shall we do with you...?"
He seemed to consider it for a moment. "Well... I guess you could stay here... I mean, the floor doesn't seem all that hard.. and we could even lend you a blanket or something..." Alec had not interrupted him so far, so that meant he didn't mind what Biggs was saying. At least he hoped so.
Logan had to swallow his pride, but all he could manage was a nod and a barely audible 'thanks'. He raised his head to look at Alec, but he appeared totally absorbed by something else on his mind.
"So... Logan, is it? .. what is it you do when you are not saving the world?" Biggs asked, the amusement and sarcasm clear in his voice.
"I ... well, I..."
Biggs burst out laughing.
Neither of them saw Alec move to the window and stare out, deep in thought.
The young woman looked around with a critical eye. It was just as she had imagined it would be.
Shadows were playing over the buildings, but failed to conceal the filth and degradation. A street lamp flickered a few feet away, the sound of sirens could be heard in the distance, and something scurried between a dumpster and one of the walls.
She squared her shoulders and raised her chin. "You can come out now. I'm one of you." she said, eyes continuously inspecting her surroundings.
A tall figure came out of the shadows, a shotgun trained at her. He tapped his neck with his left hand. She slowly raised her right hand and lifted her hair, tilting her head slightly to the side so that the light would illuminate her bar code, but careful that her eyes never left her interceptor.
"Sorry, babe, but you still ain't one of us," said the tall guy, shaking his lizard looking head from side to side. He bit the cigar he was smoking and added, "I think you want to go a few blocks that way." He jerked his head in the general direction of an alley.
"And I think I want to go where I please." She answered impassively. "And tell the guy behind the big cardboard box to my right, the one crouching behind that... car, shall we call it? ... and the one on that window, they can come out too."
Lizard-man looked at her for a moment and then raised his shotgun, letting the barrel rest on his shoulder. At a nod of his head, the sound of three different safeties being clicked on could be heard and three other weird looking transgenics stepped from the positions she had named. They approached her and proceeded to form a semicircle in front of her.
Gray eyes took them in swiftly, professionally. She then looked up and said, "Next time, you want to place yourself on the other side of that pillar, you know? To make sure the barrel of your weapon doesn't catch any unwanted reflection from the light to your left?"
A small guy with very white skin stood up from behind the small wall at the top of the building in front of her, smiling sheepishly.
Lizard guy burst out laughing and pointed to the others as he was saying: "This is Dix, Lyon and Pete. And that one up there is Luke." He moved the shotgun to his left hand extended his right, "And I'm Mole."
She took his hand. "Nicole."
The atmosphere was dense with smoke and the pulse of the loud non-descript music that was ever-present at Crash. Max and OC were sitting at a small round table watching Sketchy who was playing pool and for once, actually winning.
OC was wearing a flashy, impossible-to-miss golden outfit that brought out everything it was supposed to. Max was dressed in black, but her clothes were better and more suggestive than usual, plus she was wearing some make up and her hair was fastened loosely away from her face. She had enjoyed the feeling of dressing up, just for herself.
"So, I was thinking, what you said earlier about Ralph... maybe I should stay there with her and Josh. You know, keep an eye on them," she said.
"Oh?" OC turned to look at her.
"Well, not that I'm crazy about not having you around or anything, but... maybe until we find a more permanent solution."
"Yeah, of course."
"Yes. And you know, Joshua is probably gonna like having me there."
"Ya kiddin'? That'll be perfect, boo. Don't know why I didn't think o'that before!" OC said, shaking her head.
She'd done her part. Now it was up to Alec to find excuses to go visit Ralph and Joshua all the time. At least it should be easier than finding excuses to go by OC and Max's place. It would be harder for Max to avoid him both at work and at Joshua's. It was all she had been able to come up with.
"Sorry to disrupt your plans, ladies, but I have a little problem with them." Alec's voice sounded playfully from behind their backs, and the corner of his mouth was slightly turned up. None of his inner torment was showing in his face, his body language or his voice. No one would have guessed he was dying inside. That seeing her there made him want to just reach out and hold her in his arms and kiss her until she forgot she was mad at him. Especially when he knew he could do that. But what about later? No. He needed her. He wanted her to want to be with him. But first he needed to be around her. And if he had to trick her into it, he'd do it. He'd evaluated his options and chosen a course of action. He would achieve that objective. And then he'd move on to the next. The main objective. To make her love him.
He'd thought it all through. She had no way around it. But he had to play his cards carefully.
Once again he thanked whatever being was up there for OC. She understood exactly how to deal with Max. And she'd made things so much easier for him.
Max stiffened at the sound of his voice, but forced herself to relax. "Oh! So sorry." She said sarcastically. "And we should care about your problems, because...?"
"Well, for starters, the reason I have a problem, is Logan. And since I probably would never have met Logan or be in this situation if it wasn't for you..."
"Logan?"
"Yeah. You see, White traced one of his E.O. broadcasts, and so he decided to move into my old apartment, where I was planning to live now... So, since for reasons you are no doubt familiar with," he looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "I can't share a room with him for any prolonged amount of time... I have to move back to Joshua's." He finished, flashing her a bright smile. Max glared at him. "Or to OC's," he added.
OC narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm sorry, suga'. I love you an' all, but I ain't livin' with no male!" She wasn't sure how he was going to play this, but if this was what he wanted, she'd add her part. Looking at Max she added, "Hey, look at the bright side, boo. Now you don't have to move all your stuff."
Alec chuckled, looking at her with a wink. "Yeah, I thought so Cindy. And you know what? I'm sure Ralph would love having me around!"
"Sorry to burst your bubble, jerk, but I'm not letting that happen." Max interrupted.
*All right!* He kept his jubilation off his face.
Max continued in a very self-righteous preaching tone. "You can't be trusted. Maybe Logan can stay with Ralph and Josh…"
"No." He spoke over her.
"…and you can go back to living with your buddy and..- What do you mean, 'no'?" She demanded defiantly.
His tone carried a slight trace of mockery. "Of course I'm not going to stay there, Maxie, but not because you don't let me. It's for the same reason neither Logan or Biggs can, either."
"Oh, yeah? And what's that?" She imitated his attitude.
"Come on, Max! You should know better than anyone else." When she still didn't say a word he sighed. "Heat, Max. What if she goes into heat?"
He watched her horrified expression as his words sunk in.
"Yeah, I knew you'd get my point."
