Chap 1 : The enemy of my enemy...
She was sitting on the roof of one of TC's building. It has been her new high place when she wanted to think or to be left alone since the beginning of the siege. Not quite the Space Needle but it was quiet.
Six months have passed by now. She was afraid. Afraid of her new position as the leader of the "Freak Nation", afraid she didn't deserve it. She needed so much Zack now, or Krit or Zane. Anyone of her siblings. The 09ers as Alec called them. Alec. He has become her second in command since the Jampony siege. Well, one of her second in command. Mole didn't trust her, like many other transgenics who still saw in her a traitor who escaped back in 09.
But six months have passed and people trusted her now, (after several bruises on her skin and some of the most "influent" X5's skin) her orders were now followed without any questionning except from Mole who always had something to say about it anyway, and from time to time, Alec.
Six months of siege of doing nothing but staring at the US army and waiting for the next day to come.
For an unknown reason (actually she didn't really want to think about it), the army didn't bomb them. Except the sound of gunfire and people protesting against transgenics outside the fence, it was relatively calm.
As long as they stayed in TC, the transgenics were, well, safe. But as soon as they trespassed the fence, the soldiers took them down. More like tried.
At least, now they got to walk in the streets of Terminal City freely, they all had their own appartment, not quite the ritz, but hey! Can't complain, right. And they had food everyday, they didn't starved to death thanks to the people they had outside. But it was becoming more and more difficult to get food, supplies and moreover weapons.
Max seemed to be over her fear of guns, not that she used any but she didn't prevent anyone from doing so as Alec expected her to do (well things have changed since Biggs). Her people were sparring each day not like they used to, back at Manticore but it was useful. At least, it gave some of them something to do. It reminded Alec of his cage fight period.
She was surprised of how much Alec had been helpful, always there where she wanted, and needed him to be. After all, he's not a srew up!
"Max!"
She had heard the footsteps approaching. Time to go back to HQ.
"Max!" repeated Alec.
"I heard you", she said calmly.
"You should come and see this."
His tone was serious, and Alec was never serious. Well most of the time. She turned around to look him in the eye. Something obviously bothered him and made him nervous.
"Is there a problem?" She asked in a very concerned tone.
"Come with me."
It was an order.
When Max entered the center of command, she noticed that only few people were present. Well, it was late. Maybe everyone was already sleeping or on duty.
Joshua, Dix, Mole, Luke were looking at screen. Their faces showed anger, pain, fear, hatred. Ledge, an X5 from Alec's former unit was present, as Tara, also an X5. Legde was responsible for the sparring sessions and the sentry duty, and Tara looked upon the housing of everybody in TC.
"What's the dealio here?"
"See for yourself", announced Mole.
She looked at the screen. And there he was: Lydecker.
"Hello Max." Greeted Lydecker.