Ok, chapter 9 Thanks for the reviews, Really they mean a lot, and they have brought up an interesting point. ---This story is one where Manticore torture, and stuff plays a role. I wanted to examine that these super soldiers are not perfect, they have emotional scars. Thanks for the reviews.

Alec was still asleep when Max decided to leave, she knew that if she was there when ever he woke up he would be defensive and embarrassed. She was beginning to understand more about Alec and Rebecca, and because they were her brother and sister she wanted to be there for them. As she got on her bike her mind drifted to the night before and the nights before that, Alec at the bar, lost in thought, the way he was always on guard, how he didn't like to talk about his personal experiences at Manticore, and the pain she saw in his eyes, like a tiger that's been beaten. Going through the streets helped her clear her mind, she decided to try and approach Rebecca at work.

Alec woke up alone, relieved Max had left, he was angry he had been weak the night before. He was better than that, plus he had shared a little about what Biggs told him, which could be bad, Max had this bull headed way of butting into situations. He began to dress faster, he didn't want to be late to work, who knew what Max would do. He did not want her trying to talk to Becca about her new knowledge, he had no clue how Becca would handle it. He rushed out the door.

Max was at her locker when Rebecca walked in, she turn and was surprised at the girls' appearance. She was wearing her hair down but Max could see the bruises on her neck, and she was walking slower, like a wounded cat. Rebecca walked right to her locker and fumbled around with the lock, Max looked at her worried, then turned as Alecs voice broke in.

"Ladies" He said, heading to his locker, he caught the look on Maxs face and turned to Becca. "What's up?" he asked casually, trying to see what Max was worried about. He was about to pop out a joke when he caught a look at Rebecca's neck as she slung her messenger bag over her shoulder. "What happened to you?" he asked looking closely at her face, she was pale, and she had shadows under her eyes.

"I fell while training," she said with a forced smile, "those punching bags punch back sometimes" the joke was forced like the smile and Alec knew she was lying. He was going to question her when he realized Max was still standing there.

"That's why I use bags that are smaller than me" he joked, "that way I have an advantage," he laughed and Becca seemed to give him a genuine laugh (maybe from relief), Max was still silent. He turned away from her to Rebecca, "What are you up to tonight" he asked her casually. "Nothing" she replied, "just going to probably work out, go to bed" Alec watched her obviously lie to him, he wondered why, what wasn't she telling him? He let it go, his mind was developing a plan to figure it out later, away from Max prying eyes. Rebecca slammed her locker shut and headed over to Normal and Alec was about to follow when he felt a fist connect to his shoulder. He turn the pissed off face of Max. "What!" he said indignantly.

Max was a mixture of feelings, she was confused; why had Alec let Rebecca get away with an obvious lie, and why was he clearly avoiding the real issue just because she was there. It was like last night had never ever happened, and she was being treated like a child, that did not sit well with her. "What the hell" she said voice raised. "She is clearly lying!! You just let her walk off!" "Max! What am I supposed to pester her till she tells the truth, Does that work for you?" Alec replied hotly.

Max was about to reply when Sketchy interrupted all excited "Guys did you know that they found that guy from Crash last night dead? The guy who was yelling about how all transgenics should be killed, he's dead, the paper wanted me to write about it, Crazy huh?" Sketchy took off to share the news, leaving Alec and Max to look at each other. Alec brushed past her "Just let it go Max!" he said passing her. Max just watched him go, thinking.

Alec clinched his jaw and walked away, it was for Maxs own good. He was grateful for her being there last night, but she still didn't understand. He cared about her and he cared about Becca, but until he knew what was going on, he didn't want her involved.

That night.

X5-481 walked along the sidewalk, she was headed to the spot were her targets were out passing anti transgenic propaganda. She was walking fast and slowed as her enhanced senses picked up something, she ducked into an ally, crouched down and waited. She stayed there for 25 minutes but nothing happened. She went back out and continued walking. She was dressed in black pant, a black hoodie, and a knit cap on her head, her red hair was pulled up underneath. She reached the corner and found her targets they were passing out pamphlets and yelling about killing tranies. She walked over to them and waited till no one was around. "So" she said, smiling "Are you all talk or would you kill a transgenic" The men were quick to answer, saying they would kill any transgenic. She smiled seductively "What if it looked like me?" she questioned. "Tranies don't look like you," they said smiling lecherously. "Still, shouldn't you check and make sure" she said provocatively pulling on the hoodie zipper. The men glanced at each other deciding to give up their cause for a bit of fun. She gestured them into the alley and when they turned they found her smiling a different kind of smile. "If you take back what you said, I will let you go, I promise." She said evenly watching them. They were to excited to notice the danger, and reaffirmed their prior claims. She walked toward them reaching out, she kissed the first guy deeply reaching her hand behind his neck. His friend was trying to press against her from the side when he heard the snap and saw his friends' body hit the floor. He looked in shock right into the dangerous dark green eyes of the killer, and that was his last move.

She left the alley, upset, moving quickly up the street, she felt like she was going crazy, but why? She needed help, she had to get control, just because her partner was gone was not an excuse for her weakness. She was so caught up in her thoughts she walked right into a solid form. She looked up surprised.

"Alec!" she said still surprised "What are you doing here?"

"I was meeting someone" he replied watching her, she didn't notice the odd look in his eye. "Lets go to Crash" he invited, "have some fun, forget the day" he grinned at her, "Maybe meet a single girl, have a threesome" she smiled relieved to be able to be normal for a few hours. He gestured her to start walking and she took a few steps past him smile still on her lips, when suddenly she felt a vice grip on her throat. She struggled against it but that was futile. Alec caught her weight as her body lapsed into unconsciousness. ******************************************************************** She woke up in a strange place; she looked around in fear, bolting up from the floor. In a panic she spun around trying to figure out where she was. There was a metal door, she went to pound on it but stopped. Was this Manticore? Fear gripped her, she felt lightheaded, and she moved to the far corner and crouched down. She wanted to cry but the camera kept her from it, that would be a sign of weakness and she would get in more trouble. She looked around the room, the walls were brick and grey, there was a mat on the floor, a pillow and a blanket. She closed her eyes fear over taking her, and stayed trembling in the corner.

Meanwhile in terminal city Luke turned from the monitor and picked up a phone "Alec, she's awake, and freaking out" "no cool, ok, yeah, no one has a clue. got it" he hung up and turned back to the monitor. He sighed, the poor creature was frightened, but Alec said that she was having some sort of Manticore breakdown, and that no one was to even know she was there, he was getting computer as a return for the favor. Poor thing, he thought as he changed the monitor to view another camera.

Alec showed up 30 minutes later, he handed Luke a bag and smiled thinly, Luke opened it and looked inside, parts he had been looking for, he closed the bag and got to business. "She woke up, freaked out, She has stayed in the corner since, don't worry no one knows she is here, anything else I can do?" He looked at Alec who was watching the monitor closely, he straightened up, "No, but thanks, I am heading down to her. I'll see you in a bit" Luke raised his eyebrows "You want me to keep an eye on you," "No, but thanks" Alec smiled and took off.

Alec paused outside the door, he had no idea what to do, or say. He really could use Max but he didn't want to involve her, she wouldn't understand. He knew what Becca needed, when Biggs rescued her, he kind of completed the cycle, he was Beccas guardian, he helped her survive. That explained so much, the constant communication, the Manticore regimen, Biggs must have cared about her to give practically all his time taking care of her. Alec wanted to help her too, he saw the contradiction, she was still the perfect soldier, he'd seen her kill with ease just a few hours ago, but she was struggling, she needed guidance, something to stand on, he was determined to help her, and not just for Biggs, he felt himself drawn to her. He let out his breath, and put his hand on the door.

He walked in and she didn't get up at first, it took a moment for her to register it was him. She was confused, should she be herself, or be the soldier, she chose the soldier "494?" she questioned hesitantly standing.

Max walking over to talk to Luke when she saw him watching a monitor. There was no sound but her could see someone huddled in the corner of a room, when she was closer she saw it was Rebecca. Luke changed the monitor when he sensed someone was coming. "What's going on?" she asked. There was no answer he just stared at her, knowing he was caught but not going down with out a fight. "Luke" she warned. He stood up "I am not going to tell you anything" he walked away. Max watched him go, then turned the monitor to where it was, She watched Rebecca crouched in the corner she checked the monitors trying to figure out where she was being held. "What the Hell is going on!" she said, turning to Luke. "Look, all I know is that Alec showed up here earlier tonight, he asked for a favor, said that some X5 was having a bad reaction due to Manticore, he said he had to do something, he didn't want anyone to know. That's all I know"

Max stared at the screen, and then took off to find the two.