Author's Note: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. You guys are amazing! And thank you so much for putting me on your favorite author's lists, you have no idea how much that means to me! Sorry it took so long to update, but Fanfiction.net was acting funny and I couldn't upload the document. I actually had this chapter done April 4 and was trying to upload it ever since! I hope you enjoy this chapter.

I modified some of the wording from the actual transcripts of Dark Angel episodes for the anchorwoman's lines because I wasn't sure how to phrase it. I got the transcript from www.darkangelfan.com. I just want to give credit where credit is due. Check out the site, it's pretty cool. Alright, hope you enjoy and please review!!

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All eyes at Jam Pony were glued to the television screen and Normal turned up the volume.

"Channel Three News has obtained this shocking hoverdrone footage. Authorities are refusing to comment on the nature of the assailant. But the attacker obviously has superhuman strength," the anchorwoman continued.

A very squat, pasty person appeared on the screen, throwing police officers against the walls and into dumpsters of an alley as if they were stuffed animals. When the camera zoomed onto the face of the attacker, everyone could see he did not look like a regular human.

They watched in silence.

"The attacker, who was described by witnesses as a mutant, refused to obey the police officers on the scene. It is believed to have escaped from a covert government project known as Manticore. Some eyewitnesses claim that it took police six shots to bring it down..."

"Oh God," Kris said, clutching her stomach. The video of the transgenetic getting killed played on the television, and she felt sick. She couldn't help but visualize Alec or Max in that situation.

Alec steadied her as they continued to watch.

"You can see it right there--the barcode. Unconfirmed reports suggest these brands were used to keep track of the soldiers. The mutant's body was rushed from the scene because officials regarded it as a potential biohazard," the anchorwoman continued.

Kris peeked over to Alec's neck, thanking all deities that he had the collar of his denim jacket up and covering his barcode.

"Though gossip and unconfirmed reports of the mutants have been spreading across Seattle for months, this is the first concrete evidence of their existence," the anchorwoman said.

When the news update ended, everyone looked at everyone else in shock, but all for different reasons.

"I knew it! I knew they were real! Who called it?" Sketchy said excitedly.

"Hell yeah they're real! Those damned things are crawling all over the city! They're a menace! I hope the cops do to all of them what they did to that one," Normal said angrily.

Kris flinched at Normal's tone and Alec wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, squeezing her gently. He sighed dejectedly into her neck.

"Alec..." she whispered worriedly.

"It'll be okay," he assured her quietly, though he had no proof to back up his statement. "It'll all be fine."

Max ran to the phone frantically; Kris suspected to call Logan. Max had this extremely apprehensive expression on her face that she tried to hide, but it looked as though she was breaking apart inside. O.C. went over to comfort her as best she could inconspicuously.

"You can't be sure, Alec. No one can. Everything's gonna change," Kris said sadly.

No. He refused to listen to her. After all the crap they had been through to get to this point in their lives, he wasn't going to let something change that.

"We won't change, will we?" he whispered anxiously to her from behind.

She turned around in his arms to look into his eyes. She shook her head. "No, we won't change," she stated firmly, kissing him as the world around them fell into a black hole.

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"Damn it," Logan said, scanning the footage again.

"What is it?" Max asked, looking over his shoulder. She unconsciously started combing her hands through the small hairs on the back of his head.

"The video of the transgenetic was edited. He didn't strike first, they did. Take a look," Logan replied.

Sure enough, the officers had charged at the transgenetic and in turn, he began throwing them aside in self-defense.

"Shit," Max said angrily as she jumped up to sit on Logan's computer table. "He didn't deserve to die..."

Logan rubbed her knees gently with his hands. "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault."

"So, what's the plan?" Logan asked.

Max shook her head, lost. "All the transgenetics will probably be going to Terminal City for safety, but it's only a matter of time before the government finds out about that place. I know a lot of the X5's will want to get out of Seattle, or at least have access to the different sectors. They'll need Sector Passes...damn it, this is all so shitty!" she exclaimed, placing her head in her hands.

"Hey, we'll get through this, just like we got through everything else," Logan said encouragingly. He refocused his attention on the video on his screen, and froze it when something caught his eye.

"Why can they just leave us alone. I mean, just leave us the hell alone," she said, frustrated.

"I think I have the answer for you. See this mirror on the truck? Well, it's reflecting something. When I blew it up, it shows a black car. When I blew up the image of the driver of that car, guess who it was?" Logan said, moving aside so Max could see.

"White," she said furiously.

"He's not going to leave you guys alone," Logan said sadly.

"Not until he's dead," she replied determinedly.

"Max..."

"No, don't 'Max' me, Logan! That guy's a murderer. He'll be responsible for the deaths of a whole mess of transgenetics, I'm sure. He's going down."

"Fine, I support you on that, but you shouldn't just be jumping into something like this with no plan and no backup. Especially when you're well aware of the damage those cult guys can inflict," Logan warned.

"Well, I can't just sit on my ass and do nothing," Max said, jumping off the table and walking towards the door.

"Yeah, but I didn't think dying was an option either," Logan retorted.

Max sighed and turned around. This was all a lot easier when she didn't give a damn about anyone else. Then again, having Logan was priceless.

"What do you suggest then?" she asked quietly.

"Check up on Terminal City. See what's happening there. I can get a couple Sector Passes, but not many. So, if you need more, then maybe they can get jobs at Jam Pony or something like that. Either way, take this slow. I know you hate that, but I'm serious. The Feds, the Familiars, and the police are against us, so we gotta be three times as careful," Logan explained.

Max nodded her head grudgingly. "I hate that you're so good with that Voice of Reason thing," she commented, walking towards him and sitting on his lap.

Logan smiled and kissed her forehead.

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"Ladies and gentlemen, the threat is real. We can no longer ignore the fact that these creatures are prowling around our streets, lurking in the darkness, and wreaking havoc on our dear nation. We will not let this continue! We will stand up to these menaces and we will succeed! We now know that some of these transgenetics wear our faces, they look like you and me. But that only increases the threat. We will catch them, I assure you, and we will keep our children safe," the man on the TV screen declared passionately. Reporters started shouting to get the man's attention for questioning and Kris turned away.

Damn Senator McKinley, she thought angrily.

"Brave man..." Normal trailed off admirably as he watched the television.

Kris frowned as she walked away.

"What's wrong with you, Kris?" he asked her, noticing her upset nature.

She turned around and thought of a quick lie. "Nothing, Normal, sir, it's just that time of the month."

Normal's eyes bulged slightly. "Right, of course, well, um, uh, do you need anything?" he asked uncomfortably.

Kris smirked. "No, sir, I'll be fine."

She just had to be careful. Those few who spoke out publicly in support of the transgenetics were either in jail or never heard of again. Alec kept telling her to pretend to support the government for her own safety, but it was so hard. So far, Kris had withstood nonstop hatred towards the transgenetics ever since their story was exposed a month ago. Every time someone had made a bigoted comment, she wanted to scream, "You don't know them! I love one!" but that would never happen.

Max and Alec had been going to Terminal City to help constantly. Alec had told Kris they were really disorganized over there, so Max had pretty much taken charge of the activities with Alec as the right-hand-man. He was perfectly happy in that position, having no desire to lead.

Kris would worry endlessly when Alec wouldn't come home until early morning because he was out helping T.C. steal supplies or rescuing transgenetics who were being chased by the government. Either way, he would come home cut and sore and she could only be thankful that he returned. She never knew when the day would come when he wouldn't come back and felt so inadequate because all she could do was wait around and hope he was alright. She had said she wanted to help him, but he downright refused to put her in harm's way. How nineteenth century it felt, to wait around at home for the man to come back.

She was exhausted. Kris did Alec's runs along with her own so that he could go off and help Max during the daylight hours. O.C. covered for Max. He would pop in occasionally to Jam Pony where Kris would give him the receipts to give to Normal as his own and then he was off again. She rarely even got to see him for more than twenty minutes at a time during the day.

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A few days later, Alec was just about ready to lie down on the floor and go to sleep; he was so tired. Thank goodness for a nice, long break. Who knew T.C. would be so disorganized? Things like food, water, and gas weren't plentiful there, though he had to admit they had a nice amount of artillery.

He sat down by the lockers waiting for Kris to come back. She had given him some receipts and then ran off again to do her runs about three hours ago. Luckily Normal didn't seem to have a clue as to what was going on. But Alec wasn't sure how much longer Kris could do the double shifts without killing herself over it. She would never admit to him that she was tired, but he could see that she was. He hated doing this to her.

He reminded himself once again that after this whole thing was resolved, he and Kris would lock themselves in her apartment for a week and ignore the world. It would just be them, carefree, like it had been, fleetingly, those first few days they were together.

Just then Max came into Jam Pony, flanked by two other people. She introduced them to Normal and then left them to speak to her boss as she came over to Alec.

"Two more just came out of hiding. Figured they should work here and get the Sector Passes," Max said to Alec.

"It's so ironic how Normal is all into killing us and we're working right under his nose," Alec commented.

Max smirked.

Alec looked at her and then to the two people with Normal. "I don't believe it..." he trailed off, walking over to the two.

"Alec! I want you to meet Biggs and Cece," Normal said as he approached them.

"Alec, it's good to see you, man," the guy, Biggs, said, without missing a beat. He was an attractive black-haired guy about Alec's height and age.

"Yeah, it is, Biggs," Alec said, surprised but pleased. His name hadn't been Biggs when Alec had known him. "Cece," he addressed the girl politely. She was a tall, lean blond with crystal blue eyes. Her name hadn't been Cece back then either.

She smiled smugly. "Alec," she greeted in return.

"You guys know each other?" Normal asked.

"Yeah, we go way back," Alec replied. "You gotta hire them, boss, they're very hard workers. Might just rival Kris."

"Well, I already did," Normal replied. "Here are your Sector Passes and you're good to go. Alec, I'm sure, will show you the ropes."

"I'm sure that's not all he'll show," Cece replied rather suggestively as she walked over to Max to talk with her.

Alec smirked. Some things never changed.

"Huh, you two had something going on?" Biggs asked Alec curiously.

He shook his head. "It was nothing," he replied. "But anyway, what have you been doing this past year, man?"

"This and that," Biggs replied. "Had to keep it on the D.L."

Alec nodded in understanding. It was weird. With Biggs, even when he said just ten words, Alec knew exactly what he meant.

They had been reminiscing about their past when Kris walked in. Alec was mid-sentence when she passed him, smiling, and he suddenly forgot what he was saying. How could she still have that affect on him after so much time?

Biggs's eyes followed Kris' figure to the other girls where it looked like she was being introduced to Cece

"Who's that?" he inquired casually.

Alec smirked. Biggs always got that wild look in his eye when he was interested in a girl.

"Kris," Alec replied. He didn't bother to add the other stuff because he wanted to see Kris reject him.

"Oh, I thought Kris was a guy. But she's nice, very nice...be right back," Biggs said.

He strolled over to the girls and overheard Cece mention that it was nice she saw Alec again. He didn't notice Kris frown momentarily.

"Excuse me ladies, but I don't believe we've met. I'm Biggs," he said suavely, addressing Kris.

"Kris. Nice to meet you," Kris replied politely.

"Yes, it is nice, isn't it?" Biggs said, shaking her hand.

Max and Cece chuckled and left the two of them alone.

"You're an X5 as well, I hear," Kris commented.

Biggs was surprised. She wasn't screaming or making a scene like the other humans had been doing on TV when talking about transgenetics. He decided to use this to his advantage.

"Yeah, does that excite you?" he asked flirtingly.

"Excuse me?" Who the hell did this guy think he was? He reminded her of a worse version of Alec when she first met him.

"Well, I was just wondering if you would be interested in having a drink with me later today. Maybe we could get to know each other," he suggested, hovering over her as she leaned on the wall of lockers.

Kris looked curiously past him to where Alec was watching, an amused expression on his face. She understood.

"That's really nice of you, but I don't think so," she replied.

"Oh, how come?"

"Well, first, I don't drink. And second, My boyfriend is laughing his head off for playing this joke on you," she explained, looking at Alec as he chuckled.

Biggs followed her eyes to see Alec trying, but failing, to suppress his laughter. "Oh, shit, I'm sorry," Biggs said, embarrassed.

She shook her head. "Don't be," Kris insisted, walking over to Alec with Biggs.

"Hey sweety," Alec said, leaning in to kiss Kris.

She pulled away. "Nuh uh. Not until you apologize. That was a stupid prank."

Alec sighed. "Sorry man," he said to Biggs.

"You asshole, you're just lucky that Lola picked me," Biggs said lightheartedly.

"Who?" Kris asked, intrigued. She slipped an arm around Alec and rested her head on his shoulder. Cece and now Lola? She couldn't help but feel a little threatened.

"We were in, like, Kezmekistan on a mission and there was this girl, Lola. Gorgeous babe, no English though, which was fine. Alec did some crazy things to get her but in the end, she picked me, the obviously better choice," Biggs explained with a smile.

"She had a fetish for shorter guys, what can I say?" Alec teased.

Both guys laughed. She smiled. Kris had to admit that she never saw Alec interact with a guy like this before. There was a brotherly competition between them.

"Alec really did try to seduce her," Biggs said.

"It was nothing," Alec insisted.

Kris shrugged. "I didn't know you back then. But if you ever try to do that to someone else now," she started playfully, a finger on his chest, "you will not be happy," she finished, adding a bit of pressure behind her finger. She wasn't going to say anything about Cece until it really, really bothered her, but she was definitely going to allude to it.

Alec smiled and nodded his head in agreement.

"Gotta go do your work," Kris teased as she reached up and kissed Alec gently. "I'll see you later," he said, hugging and kissing her back.

"It was nice meeting you, Biggs," Kris said.

Biggs nodded his head respectfully and she was off.

"Lucky bastard," Biggs said enviously.

Alec smiled. "Yeah..."

"So, how long are you gonna be with her?" Biggs asked.

"What?" Alec was confused.

"Well, is she gonna be for like two weeks or maybe a month? She might get clingy, so maybe three weeks before you can her," Biggs analyzed.

"It's not like that, Biggs," Alec said.

"What do you mean?"

"She's the one," Alec explained. Besides, they had already been together for six weeks.

"Oh, please..." Biggs said incredulously. Alec had changed into a complete loser because of this girl?

"I'm serious. I'm steady now."

"Man, it's not in your blood to be steady. Remember what our solo training said about women? Use 'em, Abuse 'em, then Lose 'em."

Alec cringed at Biggs' harsh tone. Had he been like that before? Yes. For years he held that same mentality. He couldn't blame Biggs, it was all he knew, but Alec was well aware that there was something better for him.

"No, that's not how it has to be and that's not how it is," Alec insisted.

"Whatever, man, but you know you're kidding yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"How long do you think she'll be willing to put up with this transgenetic shit? You're different from her and no matter what, it'll stay that way. After that fluffy feeling is gone, all you'll have left will be a boring relationship with a woman who will probably want a normal guy afterward. The excitement of you being a transgenetic will wear off, you'll get tired of each other and then break up and what will you have then? Bittersweet memories," Biggs warned.

Alec thought about it. Though his gut reaction was that it wouldn't be like that with Kris, he could never be certain. He had never been in a relationship before after all.

"Did that happen to you?" Alec asked.

"Are you kidding me? Hell no. I wouldn't wanna go through that emotional crap," Biggs exclaimed, looking at Alec as though he were insane.

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Author's Note: What'd ya think? Anyway, I'll be using some of the plotlines from the actual show, but of course changing them since Kris wasn't in the original show. Anyhow, the next chapter is not written yet, so expect a wait. I'm terribly sorry!! But I hope you guys liked this chapter, it was harder to write than I expected. Alright, thank you all for reading! Please review!