Tough Call
Prologue
Alec leaned on the railing overlooking what was known in the transgenic community as 'HQ'. In reality, since Sandeman had been inside this place and could inform others, one of the first things they'd done was relocate the nerve center of all transgenic activities. They had actually found another building that had been much more appropriate to be used as a command post anyway. It was underground, and the only two accesses - at least the apparent ones- were through tunnels, one of them from this very building. And they had decided to retain this room here as a recreational room, both for sentimental and tactical reasons. Since one of the tunnels was through here, that meant a lot of them were still coming and going into this building, which was rather convenient to make anyone doing surveillance from the outside believe it was still transgenic-central. In addition, its being the recreational area ensured the constant presence of bodies at all times in case their watchers were using thermal scanners.
Some people might say they were being overly paranoid. They just considered it routine.
Alec watched everyone with intense eyes. Everyone was perfectly content.
Ralph was sitting with another X6, eating what appeared to be about five pounds of chips, and yapping endlessly. He frowned trying to remember the other girl's name. She was a willowy, freckled girl with dark long braids. Designation 902. He briefly pondered on the fact that after all this time in the outside, it was still easier for him to remember designations instead of names. Training, he supposed.
Lizzie and Joe were sitting on the next couch over, practically devouring each other. Their commander -as they called him whenever they thought he wasn't listening- smiled ruefully, remembering the argument of gigantic proportions those two had unknowingly caused.
It had all been Logan's fault, actually. He had come to TC to ask for some info or other and had watched the two X6s making out like crazy - they'd just started their 'romance'- and had been horrified that they (Max and Alec) were allowing these two children to behave like that. Alec had been rather amused. Sure, they couldn't be over 15 or 16 years old, but wasn't it natural for kids that age to want to be with another person that they liked? Besides, Logan had been after Max, who had to be at least ten years younger, and he hadn't found that the least bit horrifying, right? Logan had been livid, and although she clearly saw Alec's point - she'd had a hard time hiding her smile- Max had tried to placate Logan, as usual. That was, until Logan asked what would happen if the 'little girl' went into heat, which Max did seem to find a little bit disturbing.
It all would have gone great, except Nicole had chosen that exact time to pass by and say in her usual no-nonsense voice, "X6s don't go into heat, they fixed that problem back at Manticore." Which had managed to ease Logan's mind a bit, but had caused a major incident when Max recalled a certain conversation in a bar when a certain X5 had convinced her to move in with him 'just in case' that very event was to happen. The only thing that had finally let him off the hook was that he reminded her that he had promised to be honest after that incident. Alec chuckled now. The make up sex had been worth the trouble, and it wasn't as if Max and he were not arguing all the time about everything anyway. They just couldn't resist it.
Nicole's long strides distracted him as he watched her come out of the tunnel access and look around until she found Joshua. She went straight to the dog-guy and started giving him instructions on some remodeling that had to be done on another one of the buildings. Joshua was in charge of such things, and he was doing a hell of a job so far, making every room he touched in Terminal City into a hospitable and nice place to be. Some new transgenics had to be on their way and that was probably the reason Nicole was carrying such a request.
TC had really become transgenic central in the past few months. The humans still didn't like them, and the police were still guarding the outside fences. To avoid incidents, they said. In reality it was probably to keep an eye on them. By now, they had surely come to realize what they should have in the first place: This was a highly trained, superior army, ready to come into action anytime, anywhere, with very little notice. What they had pulled off during the whole Familiar fiasco was something no other armed force in the world could have. At least, not without deploying thousands of soldiers and tons of equipment, which would have compromised the mission's security and of course, secrecy. Negotiations were discreetly taking place between the transgenics and what was formerly known as the UN. They wanted to have the transgenic's aid whenever there was a crisis, and felt that the transgenics would make unparalleled peacekeeping troops. The transgenics were listening, but their position was clear and non-negotiable. They would pick their own fights and they would decide when to get involved in human fights and when not to. But they would allow the international committee to have discreet 'unauthorized' leaks into the press that the transgenics were on side. That fact alone might diffuse a few crises before they came to be.
Of course, the other side of the whole Familiar affair was that now every transgenic around the world was virtually under his command. Actually, also under Max's, but none of them trusted Max much, and Max left both the strategic and the tactical decisions up to him. She had admitted herself that she hated planning things. She was more a spur of the moment kind of person. She was great at that, he had to admit. She was able to make the most badly thought out plans and the most unlikely situations turn into successes. That was just his Max. So she was the one that went out the most, she planned all the little burglary missions -hey! they still needed to eat too!- and she spoke to the press whenever there was a need. They just loved her. Who wouldn't?
Nicole ran everything inside Terminal City, though. She had a natural air of command and everyone felt comfortable following her orders. Well, everyone except Max and his friend Biggs. Biggs was still protesting whenever he had a chance that Nicole's aura was keeping other possible ladies away, but it was plain to see he didn't really mind. Alec just nodded at him and made sympathetic noises whenever he started talking about other women. His friend couldn't see it yet, but despite all his protestations, he was falling for the gray-haired X5 fast. Alec knew. He'd been there. And he wouldn't trade where he was at now for anything in the world.
Just then he sensed the object of his thoughts, an instant before she entered 'HQ', followed by a couple of X8 that were looking up at her adoringly. The highest influx of transgenics into TC were kids, X8s and X6s. X5s remained scattered around the world. They were better at disguise and more productive that way.
The blonde little girl giggled at something Max said. She was so very good with kids. They all loved her and it was a rare time that she was able to be outside command center but within the City without at least one little rascal in tow. And to think she still wondered whether she'd be a good mother...
A proud smile touched his lips as he watched her. She was wearing a pair of tight dark blue jeans and a cream-colored T-shirt, that clung to her figure. Everyone kept telling her to hurry up, that they wanted to see the belly grow. How could they be so blind? Couldn't they see the changes? Then again, he was way more familiar with her body than anyone else he figured with what he knew had to be a very silly grin.
He was actually torn between two conflicting wishes. He wanted to keep seeing Max this way, to watch the changes; but he also wanted the baby to be born now, to look at it, touch it, hold it. It was very strange how he could have such strong feelings for a little person he had never even seen, but he did, and it felt great.
Overall, TC wasn't a bad place at all to bring their kid into the world. Some of the 5s and 6s were working on the outside. Normal had nearly had a heart attack when he learned his golden boy was a trannie, but he'd come to accept it, and after all, he'd also become a hero of a sort. So he didn't mind having genetically enhanced messengers, seeing as he'd lost a few employees. Max, Alec, Nicole and Biggs were too likely to be recognized and too busy anyway, and Sketchy was now an independent correspondent for the major newspapers in Seattle. His articles were read all over the world and were hanging both here in 'HQ' and, believe it or not, Normal's office.
So, yeah, humans still didn't trust them. They did live in what was considered a toxic wasteland, but it wasn't toxic for them at all and it did keep the humans out. They trained everyday, everyone had their chores, and they were a nice little community.
It wasn't the ideal place to bring a baby into the world, but then again, it beat the hell out of the place they all had grown up in.
He still knew not everything was settled, and he was still completely alert all the time. He had a lot of people to take care of now. And though he rationally knew everything was okay for now, he had been trained to not make assumptions.
But he could relax for a while. Whatever came, they'd be ready for it. In the meantime, he had a lovely woman, he was about to have a baby with her, and friends surrounded him.
And that was it.
He climbed down the stairs just as Mole and Biggs came into the room, arguing, as usual.
"Yeah, right, you just want to go check the weapons. Sure." Biggs was saying. "And the fact that Asha will be there has nothing to do with it. Uh huh."
"Oh, shut up, like you are one to talk. In fact, did you ask the lady boss permission to go check them out?" Mole challenged back.
"Why, do you do that?"
"Nah, that's what you are here for."
Alec laughed. It was like this all the time. He raised both his hands when they looked at him for support. He wasn't stepping into that argument. Instead he walked towards Max and placed his arms around her, stealing a kiss.
Mole snorted, "Look who we are turning to for help."
"You are right, buddy." Biggs agreed dramatically, "Poor bastard."
Alec just smiled at them, before turning back to Max to kiss her properly.
Three minutes later, everyone around them was still whistling. Hey, he could hold his breath for well over four minutes, no sweat. Why kill the joy?
Yes, he would continue to enjoy the peace. As long as it lasted.
Sandeman stared balefully at the double-thick bars blocking his view of the stars. Smarter than humans? Even smarter than him? No. He firmly believed that one could not create something more perfect than oneself.
Sandeman leaned back, settled more comfortably on the cot. X5-494 was *wrong*.
Now he just had to think of the right way to prove it.
A/N: Ooooookkkkay. That's it. I sincerely hope you guys enjoyed it. I want to thank Pai, because even when this has developed into way more than what you had in mind, it was still that challenge that inspired me to start. All the people who have read and all my reviewers, every single comment was helpful! And I cannot end this without a huge, HUGE hug for Goblie, for the constant support and feedback, and, naturally, Infie: This story would not have been without your help and support, not to mention your beta services ;). *HUGS*
