With You Chapter Seven
Disclaimer - I don't own them.
A/N: Sorry about the delay! Hopefully I can get the next chapter up sooner. This one is kind of short, but the next will be longer. Hope you all like it! Let me know what you think.
---
Joey and Ryan join the assembly of transgenics in HQ, evaluating the facial expressions surrounding them.
"What do we have here?" Joey asks, Aletha's stomach fluttering as she notices both of Ryan and Joey are in on the plan.
"We've got a situation on our hands that involves all of us, and possibly the ordinaries as well," Max says, not looking up from the map spread across the table in front of her.
Ryan moves closer, followed directly by Joey, in an attempt to get a better look. Jondy looks around from behind them all, noticing an MIA.
"What happened to Zane?"
"He's in charge of rounding up the last of our party," Alec says, leaning over Max's shoulders to help outline the perfect route to their destination that would provide for a good cover when they move in.
Alec's scent reaches her nostrils, sending a pleasant shiver up and down her spine. This mission could be a lot worse than she expects it to be.
---
Zane is standing along the side of a brick building; lazily watching as two X6s patrol the border of their haven. Knowing enough to hurry and find Kay and Luke before Max begins getting worried he slowly stalks along the bricks, disappearing into the darkness. As he sneaks behind the corner of a building, a cold hand grabs his shoulder.
"What took you so long?"
The same voice from the phone earlier.
"Take it easy, it's not like I can just walk off unnoticed at the snap of a finger inside a city of genetically enhanced super spies."
"Have you completed your objective?"
"Yes, sir. I have successfully gained their trust and earned a position in the Sandeman Project."
"Good work. Keep this up and there might be a promotion in the future."
Zane salutes and replies, "Thank you, sir. I won't let you down."
The man in the darkness slinks away slowly, leaving Zane on his own. He turns lightly on his heels and returns to his position leaning against the wall, feeling the coolness of the bricks reach through his cotton shirt and send a tingling sensation through him just as the X6s round the corner, just in time for Zane to say goodbye and set out in search of the remaining party members.
---
Kay and Luke arrive at the same moment that Zane does, the two unfamiliar X5s following closely.
"'Bout time you got back," Syl says sarcastically.
Alec addresses the two newcomers, "All right you guys, debriefing on this mission starts now."
The four soldiers stand obediently at attention, feet the proper length apart, backs straight as humanly possible. Max steps forward, rustling the report around in her hands before blindly handing it over to Krit sitting behind her next to Alec.
"We have uncovered a lead that may take us tot he one man who can make or break this situation we've been tossed into. We will be leaving before dayb-."
"Whoa, whoa, hold up. You are the head of this mission?" X5 894, Skyler by choice, says, dropping his perfect soldier pose and revealing his true colors.
"Yeah. You got a problem with that, soldier? Because I can easily throw you and your smart ass attitude off this mission and assign you janitorial work for the rest of your stay here," Max says in her usual won't-take-this-kind-of-shit-from-anybody voice. Well, with the exception of Alec, of course.
Kay, Luke, and the other X5 remain standing uncomfortably, their postures swaying uneasily like loose twigs in the breeze.
"What is with the know-it-all CO act? What makes you think we want to follow orders from someone like you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Aletha jumps up from the table, claws poised and ready to strike the minute Max gives the signal.
Max gets up in Skyler's face, temper gauge at the breaking limit, smoke spouting an unfriendly warning. "You want to keep giving me mouth?"
"So what if I do?"
The first of the many remarks that run through her well thought out database of quips shocks her to the core.
'I have zero tolerance for that, zero!'
That's who he reminds her of! The X5 standing before her has very similar features in comparison with Zero, and the same first impressions with her as well.
"If you don't learn how to act around here then I'll have to teach you. And believe me buddy," she grabs the collar of his military issue gray shirt, "the rules around here ain't what they were at good old Manticore."
"Get your hands off of me, filth!" Skyler shouts, sending a chill through the crowd watching intently.
Wrong move.
"Did you just call me filth?"
"You heard me."
Max tightens her grip on his shirt, threatening glares coming from every member of her posse.
"You're nothing but a traitor. Scum scraped from the bottom of the bucket. No wonder you bailed on us all those years ago. And now," he laughs, "now you expect us to obey your every command. To follow you into battle, without the worry that you will run off when the going gets tough."
Max recoils at his burning remarks. That was a low blow if she had ever heard one. If there is one thing that got through that guarded fortress, it is the mention of the escape.
Sometimes she thinks they are right. But then the realization of why they ran from that screwed up institution return and she stands by the decisions Zack made. The decisions that changed her life forever.
Alec runs to Max's rescue, prying her hands off Skyler's shirt. His words are lost in Max's confusion. Drifting in and out of reality, she hardly even notices that he is talking at all. Those words stung her more than life itself.
"Now get the fuck out of here!" Alec roars, startling Max.
Skyler scowls at Alec for sticking up for the one he deems as "betrayer" and turns to leave.
"Wait."
He spins back to them, remaining quiet, following Alec's demanding orders.
"Max, what are you doing?" Jondy says, rushing to her side with Aletha, Krit, and Zane in tow.
"I want him to stay," she says adamantly.
"Max, what are you thinking? He could jeopardize the entire mission if he goes!" Krit exclaims, outraged at the disrespectful X5.
"I want to give him another chance." Max looks at the shocked faces staring back at her.
"What- Why?" Zane stumbles.
"I want him to see that we aren't traitors. That we can do this."
"Max, you don't need to prove yourself to this bozo," Alec says soothingly, trying to talk some sense into her.
"I agree, Max. We can't risk it." Syl was in no mood to put up with a twerp like Skyler.
"I want to gain his trust. And teach him a few things about respect along the way," she answers, shooting a death threat across the room towards Skyler, who has his arms folded across his chest, looking skeptically back.
"I think it might be a good idea," Krit lets up, realizing Max's intentions.
"What about the rest of you? Don't you want to show these people who their leaders are? What we're made of?"
"I'm in," Jondy says with a sigh, and Zane and Aletha chime in as well.
Syl stands there glaring at Skyler, showing her newfound hatred toward him for the entire world to see.
"Syl?" Aletha asks pleadingly, trying to sway her sister into agreeing with the rest of them.
Syl sighs with disgust toward 894, but agrees despite that. "All right, I'm in."
"Hey punk, get your ass back over here," Max demands with the response she was hoping for. Skyler reluctantly returns to his position among his fellow comrades.
"Nice work, Maxie," Alec whispers so only she can hear. Before she can reply, shouting in the corridors stall her.
The doors burst open and a red face appears.
"No, you can't do this!"
Logan.
---
Thanks to all my great reviewers!
Chrissy – Thanks! Glad you liked it.
Natasqi – Thanks for the review! Hopefully you liked this chapter too.
SockBrain – Where'd you go? It might have just been my email acting up again. Hopefully your exams went well and soon you can enjoy summer! Thanks for the review! Hope to here from you soon!
RGAP-48 – Should I hide from the wrath of your whip now? jumps under a table Glad you liked the Kay/Luke scene, there's definitely going to be more of them soon.