Chapter Nine: Forgotten Past
Max found Alec asleep at her desk. He looked angelic, his face free from stress and worry and his gorgeous eyelashes making small shadows on his cheeks. Max began to wonder what he was dreaming about that made him so peaceful. She wished she could make him feel this carefree more often. Upon this thought, she began to wonder why he hadn't woken in her presence. Maybe he was comfortable with her. *Maybe he trusts and cares for me? * That was quickly dismissed; he couldn't possibly care for her or trust her in more than a military/soldier sense. She wasn't sure why he kept sleeping, but just the same, it made her happy. He needed some sleep after doing her job. She had a lot to do, but she had useful genes. *NO!!! Oh, crap...*
As soon as she sneezed, Alec was by her side. "Max, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about. You look so tired."
"How do you do it? I mean, ALL of it?"
"Shark DNA."
"Oh, right," Alec yawned.
"That's it. YOU are taking a day off. Come on." With that, she maneuvered him to his apartment, which, *Thank God *, was close to Headquarters. He was so tired he neither complained nor implied anything about her leading him to bed. After he was tucked into the covers, (which he insisted he do himself, while waving her away with persistent groans of, 'You're not my mother, Max.') She hung at the doorway, watching his breathing even out. When she was sure he was asleep, she quickly considered kissing him lightly. Then she thought against it; their first kiss would be one Alec would definitely remember. She left to do her job with a simple. "Sleep tight... my honey bunches of oats."
***~***
When Alec awoke a few hours later, he smiled at the memory of a caring Max telling him he had the day off. He was aware that they needed more people to work, and so was she. He decided to indulge, knowing exactly how he'd spend that first part of his free time. Maybe it wasn't what he really wanted to be doing, but he and Max didn't have that kind of relationship – yet. After exchanging his old clothes for new ones, Alec headed to Zack's apartment fully rested.
When he arrived at 2D, a blond woman, who seemed very excited, greeted him. "Oh... My... God!" she uttered. "Two people alive from the dead?! This isn't happening!"
"Umm.... two? Back from the dead? What?" Then the wheels started to turn in his mind. Max, to her siblings, except for Zack, was dead from that mission on Manticore so long back. But who was the other person supposedly resurrected?
"Ben? You look confused. How did you find Terminal City? What happened? How are you --- alive?" Syl whispered as if she didn't quite believe what she was seeing. In fact, she didn't.
Oh, once again faced with brother Ben. This'll be fun. "Ummm... actually.... I'm Ben's twin, 494."
"Oh." The twinkle of hope left her eyes and was replaced by disappointment. Unlike a lot of their kind, she seemed to have forgotten to hide her emotions. Alec admired her for it. Finally, she extended her hand and said simply, "I'm Syl."
Alec took the presented hand and shook it, grinning. He always took the chance to charm the pants off women, even though he was unavailable – Max would always have first dibs. "Alec."
Syl giggled, "So you're the infamous Alec? Hmm... we've heard about you." She looked him up and down before mumbling, "Don't seem forgettable to me." She walked back inside, motioning for him to do the same.
Alec almost choked; he had been in Terminal City awhile and it had been forever since a woman was forward with him. "Umm... have you seen Zack? I'm kind of looking for him," Alec asked, his cocky smirk intact.
"Zane and Jondy wouldn't know; they've been out for hours...." The kind woman mumbled to herself. She decided to choose the one person she loved – and loved to annoy. "Krit?" Syl called. A man shuffled into view, scratching his back. He was decked out in boxers and a t-shirt, and to top it off, he didn't seem to care. He moaned, "What do you want, Syl?" His eyes widened as he caught sight of Alec.
"He's Ben's twin; Alec, ya know? He's looking for Zack." Krit sized up Alec.
"Oh yeah.... come in." As Alec slowly stepped farther away from the door, he was greeted with an interrogational, "So, you're Alec, huh?"
"I guess so. So you're Krit, huh?" Alec mocked.
"I can see where you got your name."
"Most people do."
"You know Max is our little sister, right?"
"I guess."
Just then, Zack entered the apartment. "Hey, what's going on?"
"This is Alec," Krit stated with obvious distain.
"Yeah, he's a friend."
At this, Krit looked embarrassed at the questioning. "I was just looking out for her," He mumbled and shuffled, but more swiftly, out the way he came.
"Excuse him, he's just trying to help out Zack." Syl angrily stomped off to find Krit.
"So, your crush on Maxie isn't so secret," Alec broke the silence first.
"I'd prefer not to put it that way."
"Well, I have the day off and we never finished that conversation. What do you say about taking a tour of TC while you tell me which way to put it?"
Silently, Zack grabbed his jacket and the two men exited the apartment.
Alec and Zack walked for quite a while without exchanging a word, although the quiet wasn't awkward. Neither blond knew how to start. The thinking time was needed, but eventually it had to end.
"So... What were you saying before Maxie came?" Alec asked cautiously, but with an anxiousness and curiosity.
"I don't remember."
"Ha ha, very funny. Really."
Zack couldn't help but smile at his companion. It was odd how Alec could bring out even his inner jokester.
"Okay, you can't tell...."
"Anyone. I got that part."
"I might as well start at the beginning."
"It's a good place to start."
Zack sighed. "I remember I always felt more protective over Maxie than the others. Well, except Ben, but that's a different story."
"Don't worry, I got the abridged version already." Alec's commentary was half ignored by Zack, who continued on with his story.
"At first, I disguised it that she was like my little sister. I managed to hide everything I felt inside until the day after the escape. I was alone as CO. It's the worst feeling possible. I knew I still had to protect my unit.
"As all the people woke and came outside that morning, all I saw was 50,347 threats to my unit. The number fluctuated so often, I didn't bother keeping track. All I knew was I had to find Max and protect her. She was right, we shouldn't have split, but I didn't see any other way. I looked and looked for her. In fact, I found everyone's location except hers. Finally, when I found her, I was 21. Twelve years it took me to find that girl. Even though she was fine, I hated everyday I didn't find her. I should have done better, as a CO. When I did find her, I had to disguise myself to see her. I knew she would either follow me or convince me to stay with her if she knew my identity. I could never put her in danger and I couldn't jeopardize the others. Even so, she found out I was, well, me. When she did, she pulled me into a hug. I hate to admit it, but that was the most intimate contact I've ever had with somebody meaningful. I know, me being as sexy as I am, it's shocking," Zack managed to reveal his cocky side.
Alec was shocked. Then he chuckled saying, "I've taught you well, young grasshopper." Perhaps Alec has watched too many Kung Fu re-runs on Pay-Per- View.
"But, back to the story. All she whispered to me was, 'Why didn't you tell me?' At that moment, it felt like an, 'I love you.' Then, with perfect timing as usual, Lydecker decides to crash the party. We kicked their asses, but afterwards, she refused leave Seattle with me. It was like a stab through my heart. After a few more visits, I found her reasoning."
"Logan," they said simultaneously, both with hatred gritting between their teeth. Damn, they hated that man with a passion; it was almost becoming a hobby. He had ruined a lot of chances with the girl of their dreams. But that wasn't a problem anymore. HE wasn't a problem anymore.
Zack started again. "Deck, being the vengeful soul he is – you know, 'escape, I'll get you back, you take my place, I take yours' kinda guy – he met up with Syl, Krit, Max and me. Logan came along." After sharing another look of disgust with Alec, the story continued.
"Lydecker said we had to take out the DNA lab in order to destroy Manticore – or at least all of its work. So Max and I - yes I paired us off on purpose - went to plant bombs in the lab. We did but..." Zack began to get emotional. Alec understood and didn't say a word.
"There was some type of interference, X6's or something. Things come to a fuzzy patch. Both Max and I are injured, me in the shoulder, Max in the heart. We're taken back to hell, err...Manticore. I'm the one of us that's conscious. This part I remember all too clearly." A single tear presented itself on his cheek and streamed down, making a small pathway on his face.
"I start freaking out. Renfro, the bitch, said she needed a heart transplant. I grab her and point a gun to her head, suggesting she become a donor. She managed to choke out, 'She's an X5. She needs an X5 heart.' Seeing that I am the only available X5 in the room, I elect myself to take one for the team – besides, I'd promised I'd give up *something * that year for Lent. Then everything goes black. You know the rest."
"Whoa." Alec is speechless.
After a few minutes to collect himself, Zack calmly inquires, "So, how did you meet Maxie?"
Alec sighed. This would be awkward. "Well, it's your fault really. See, even though it was a great attempt, Manticore kept working and came up with an idea for more.... kids. The natural way." Zack's eyes widened with realization.
"Some of the X5 males, about half, were pair off with a.... breeding partner. I was chosen to.... Breed. I walked into the cell and into Max's life. I took off my shirt and explained the situation. I wasn't as sickened at the thought as she was; we were trained to get close to a target by seducing them. I just got used to it," Alec shrugged.
"You wouldn't have minded, in other words," Zack stated simply.
"Not at all," Alec wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Zack smiled. The only reason he didn't crack up, besides the fact that he's ZACK, was that he wouldn't have minded either.
"BUT, Max kicked me against the wall and said 'That's the only physical contact you and I are going to have.' Then she proceeded to escape. Not that she remembers any of that. Oh, and she also named me. She said it was good I liked Alec, because the second choice was Dick." Both men smirked.
"That's pretty much how it happened. Now, where was our conversation yesterday going again?" Alec asked.
"Okay, well, I just want to have Max be happy...."
Dix ran came up to the pair. "We thought we should find you. Max is seizing." Alec and Zack only shared a look before blurring off to Max's office.
***~*** A/N: Hey! I'm glad you like the story! There are still a few chapters to go, though, so keep reading!
Oh, and willow, she's not faking. That would just be weird.
Extra special thank you to all the faithful reviews out there – you know who you are. You guys are the best, don't ever forget it.
Max found Alec asleep at her desk. He looked angelic, his face free from stress and worry and his gorgeous eyelashes making small shadows on his cheeks. Max began to wonder what he was dreaming about that made him so peaceful. She wished she could make him feel this carefree more often. Upon this thought, she began to wonder why he hadn't woken in her presence. Maybe he was comfortable with her. *Maybe he trusts and cares for me? * That was quickly dismissed; he couldn't possibly care for her or trust her in more than a military/soldier sense. She wasn't sure why he kept sleeping, but just the same, it made her happy. He needed some sleep after doing her job. She had a lot to do, but she had useful genes. *NO!!! Oh, crap...*
As soon as she sneezed, Alec was by her side. "Max, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about. You look so tired."
"How do you do it? I mean, ALL of it?"
"Shark DNA."
"Oh, right," Alec yawned.
"That's it. YOU are taking a day off. Come on." With that, she maneuvered him to his apartment, which, *Thank God *, was close to Headquarters. He was so tired he neither complained nor implied anything about her leading him to bed. After he was tucked into the covers, (which he insisted he do himself, while waving her away with persistent groans of, 'You're not my mother, Max.') She hung at the doorway, watching his breathing even out. When she was sure he was asleep, she quickly considered kissing him lightly. Then she thought against it; their first kiss would be one Alec would definitely remember. She left to do her job with a simple. "Sleep tight... my honey bunches of oats."
***~***
When Alec awoke a few hours later, he smiled at the memory of a caring Max telling him he had the day off. He was aware that they needed more people to work, and so was she. He decided to indulge, knowing exactly how he'd spend that first part of his free time. Maybe it wasn't what he really wanted to be doing, but he and Max didn't have that kind of relationship – yet. After exchanging his old clothes for new ones, Alec headed to Zack's apartment fully rested.
When he arrived at 2D, a blond woman, who seemed very excited, greeted him. "Oh... My... God!" she uttered. "Two people alive from the dead?! This isn't happening!"
"Umm.... two? Back from the dead? What?" Then the wheels started to turn in his mind. Max, to her siblings, except for Zack, was dead from that mission on Manticore so long back. But who was the other person supposedly resurrected?
"Ben? You look confused. How did you find Terminal City? What happened? How are you --- alive?" Syl whispered as if she didn't quite believe what she was seeing. In fact, she didn't.
Oh, once again faced with brother Ben. This'll be fun. "Ummm... actually.... I'm Ben's twin, 494."
"Oh." The twinkle of hope left her eyes and was replaced by disappointment. Unlike a lot of their kind, she seemed to have forgotten to hide her emotions. Alec admired her for it. Finally, she extended her hand and said simply, "I'm Syl."
Alec took the presented hand and shook it, grinning. He always took the chance to charm the pants off women, even though he was unavailable – Max would always have first dibs. "Alec."
Syl giggled, "So you're the infamous Alec? Hmm... we've heard about you." She looked him up and down before mumbling, "Don't seem forgettable to me." She walked back inside, motioning for him to do the same.
Alec almost choked; he had been in Terminal City awhile and it had been forever since a woman was forward with him. "Umm... have you seen Zack? I'm kind of looking for him," Alec asked, his cocky smirk intact.
"Zane and Jondy wouldn't know; they've been out for hours...." The kind woman mumbled to herself. She decided to choose the one person she loved – and loved to annoy. "Krit?" Syl called. A man shuffled into view, scratching his back. He was decked out in boxers and a t-shirt, and to top it off, he didn't seem to care. He moaned, "What do you want, Syl?" His eyes widened as he caught sight of Alec.
"He's Ben's twin; Alec, ya know? He's looking for Zack." Krit sized up Alec.
"Oh yeah.... come in." As Alec slowly stepped farther away from the door, he was greeted with an interrogational, "So, you're Alec, huh?"
"I guess so. So you're Krit, huh?" Alec mocked.
"I can see where you got your name."
"Most people do."
"You know Max is our little sister, right?"
"I guess."
Just then, Zack entered the apartment. "Hey, what's going on?"
"This is Alec," Krit stated with obvious distain.
"Yeah, he's a friend."
At this, Krit looked embarrassed at the questioning. "I was just looking out for her," He mumbled and shuffled, but more swiftly, out the way he came.
"Excuse him, he's just trying to help out Zack." Syl angrily stomped off to find Krit.
"So, your crush on Maxie isn't so secret," Alec broke the silence first.
"I'd prefer not to put it that way."
"Well, I have the day off and we never finished that conversation. What do you say about taking a tour of TC while you tell me which way to put it?"
Silently, Zack grabbed his jacket and the two men exited the apartment.
Alec and Zack walked for quite a while without exchanging a word, although the quiet wasn't awkward. Neither blond knew how to start. The thinking time was needed, but eventually it had to end.
"So... What were you saying before Maxie came?" Alec asked cautiously, but with an anxiousness and curiosity.
"I don't remember."
"Ha ha, very funny. Really."
Zack couldn't help but smile at his companion. It was odd how Alec could bring out even his inner jokester.
"Okay, you can't tell...."
"Anyone. I got that part."
"I might as well start at the beginning."
"It's a good place to start."
Zack sighed. "I remember I always felt more protective over Maxie than the others. Well, except Ben, but that's a different story."
"Don't worry, I got the abridged version already." Alec's commentary was half ignored by Zack, who continued on with his story.
"At first, I disguised it that she was like my little sister. I managed to hide everything I felt inside until the day after the escape. I was alone as CO. It's the worst feeling possible. I knew I still had to protect my unit.
"As all the people woke and came outside that morning, all I saw was 50,347 threats to my unit. The number fluctuated so often, I didn't bother keeping track. All I knew was I had to find Max and protect her. She was right, we shouldn't have split, but I didn't see any other way. I looked and looked for her. In fact, I found everyone's location except hers. Finally, when I found her, I was 21. Twelve years it took me to find that girl. Even though she was fine, I hated everyday I didn't find her. I should have done better, as a CO. When I did find her, I had to disguise myself to see her. I knew she would either follow me or convince me to stay with her if she knew my identity. I could never put her in danger and I couldn't jeopardize the others. Even so, she found out I was, well, me. When she did, she pulled me into a hug. I hate to admit it, but that was the most intimate contact I've ever had with somebody meaningful. I know, me being as sexy as I am, it's shocking," Zack managed to reveal his cocky side.
Alec was shocked. Then he chuckled saying, "I've taught you well, young grasshopper." Perhaps Alec has watched too many Kung Fu re-runs on Pay-Per- View.
"But, back to the story. All she whispered to me was, 'Why didn't you tell me?' At that moment, it felt like an, 'I love you.' Then, with perfect timing as usual, Lydecker decides to crash the party. We kicked their asses, but afterwards, she refused leave Seattle with me. It was like a stab through my heart. After a few more visits, I found her reasoning."
"Logan," they said simultaneously, both with hatred gritting between their teeth. Damn, they hated that man with a passion; it was almost becoming a hobby. He had ruined a lot of chances with the girl of their dreams. But that wasn't a problem anymore. HE wasn't a problem anymore.
Zack started again. "Deck, being the vengeful soul he is – you know, 'escape, I'll get you back, you take my place, I take yours' kinda guy – he met up with Syl, Krit, Max and me. Logan came along." After sharing another look of disgust with Alec, the story continued.
"Lydecker said we had to take out the DNA lab in order to destroy Manticore – or at least all of its work. So Max and I - yes I paired us off on purpose - went to plant bombs in the lab. We did but..." Zack began to get emotional. Alec understood and didn't say a word.
"There was some type of interference, X6's or something. Things come to a fuzzy patch. Both Max and I are injured, me in the shoulder, Max in the heart. We're taken back to hell, err...Manticore. I'm the one of us that's conscious. This part I remember all too clearly." A single tear presented itself on his cheek and streamed down, making a small pathway on his face.
"I start freaking out. Renfro, the bitch, said she needed a heart transplant. I grab her and point a gun to her head, suggesting she become a donor. She managed to choke out, 'She's an X5. She needs an X5 heart.' Seeing that I am the only available X5 in the room, I elect myself to take one for the team – besides, I'd promised I'd give up *something * that year for Lent. Then everything goes black. You know the rest."
"Whoa." Alec is speechless.
After a few minutes to collect himself, Zack calmly inquires, "So, how did you meet Maxie?"
Alec sighed. This would be awkward. "Well, it's your fault really. See, even though it was a great attempt, Manticore kept working and came up with an idea for more.... kids. The natural way." Zack's eyes widened with realization.
"Some of the X5 males, about half, were pair off with a.... breeding partner. I was chosen to.... Breed. I walked into the cell and into Max's life. I took off my shirt and explained the situation. I wasn't as sickened at the thought as she was; we were trained to get close to a target by seducing them. I just got used to it," Alec shrugged.
"You wouldn't have minded, in other words," Zack stated simply.
"Not at all," Alec wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Zack smiled. The only reason he didn't crack up, besides the fact that he's ZACK, was that he wouldn't have minded either.
"BUT, Max kicked me against the wall and said 'That's the only physical contact you and I are going to have.' Then she proceeded to escape. Not that she remembers any of that. Oh, and she also named me. She said it was good I liked Alec, because the second choice was Dick." Both men smirked.
"That's pretty much how it happened. Now, where was our conversation yesterday going again?" Alec asked.
"Okay, well, I just want to have Max be happy...."
Dix ran came up to the pair. "We thought we should find you. Max is seizing." Alec and Zack only shared a look before blurring off to Max's office.
***~*** A/N: Hey! I'm glad you like the story! There are still a few chapters to go, though, so keep reading!
Oh, and willow, she's not faking. That would just be weird.
Extra special thank you to all the faithful reviews out there – you know who you are. You guys are the best, don't ever forget it.