Alec's War

By Shikasta

Spoilers: Anything's fair game in my view although this is an AU

Disclaimer: The characters of Dark Angel are owned by Twentieth Century Fox Television and Cameron Eglee productions. In laymen's terms: Don't own them but by god I wish I did.

A/N Here's chapter four and as requested it's a long one.

Italics = flashback

Chapter Four – Newsworthy

Angeline stood in the cool morning air waiting to be lead into Seattle. She was young and ambitious hoping the transgenic story would help her make a name for herself in journalism. Her friends and family had said she was a fool trying to discourage her from going but Angeline had a gut feeling. She was fearful, not knowing what to expect, only the monster stories depicting what these people were like but her fear was buried deep her desire to get a story overpowering it.

As she waited she checked through her knapsack again making sure she had everything with her including her camera. Although she usually dressed in heels and skirt today she looked ready to enter a war zone with sturdy boots, jeans and sweater she had even forgone her usual beauty routine choosing to wear nothing but lip gloss. She felt like a stranger in her own skin but it was a small price to pay to get to see inside Seattle.

She looked at her watch, her contact was now 20 minutes late, tired of standing she sat down on the wet grass her knapsack laying in her lap, her knee shaking slightly with the adrenalin rush already surging through her body. She looked at her watch again 25 minutes late, she was starting to get antsy her head spinning around looking in all directions but there was only the odd tweet and flutter of birds.

30 minutes and her contact was cautiously making his way towards her, she stood up to greet him with her hand out ready to shake his. He looked at the hand curiously then allowed his eyes to dart around scanning the area.

"Erm, hi my name's Angeline" she said looking at her outstretched hand then returning it to her side.

"Dits, you the journalist?"

"Yes" she answered.

"Okay we can't stay here it's not safe"

"But there's no one around" she protested slightly.

"That's what you think" Dits said mysteriously "Gotta blindfold you I'm afraid"

"Why" she demanded the thought of being unable to see terrifying her slightly.

"Hey not blindfolding you means a hellava lot of extra work" now he was just being plain crypt she thought.

"Fine" she muttered as Dits put the blindfold on.

"Can you see anything?" he asked

'Like I would tell you if I could' she thought but responded "no."

"Lets go then" and Dits grabbed her hand and her knapsack and ran dragging a stumbling Angeline behind him she loved a thrill but this was beyond any thrill she could have imagined.


Max and Thaddeus had dumped their car now making the home stretch on foot they had to use stealth because the military was everywhere. This was the part that always scared her, the thought of being caught only a stone's throw away from her home and her family never knowing. They were trying to find a back door, they're usual one having been blocked off, no doubt discovered by the army. There were many back door tunnels into TC that the digger community had arduously built but only a handful of people knew where all of them were. Command had foreseen this possibility though and had designed entrance markers undistinguishable to anyone not looking for it. So Max and Thaddeus were being stealthy in enemy territory trying to find a back door marker with little luck.

"This is ridiculous" Max snipped in a whisper "I'm going to have a word with Alec when we get back in."

"At this rate it might be a while" Thaddeus quipped back.

"Just keeping looking," she said irritated.

"We could always just use the front door for a change, give both armies some entertainment."

"Every time we come back you suggest the same thing, what is it on your list of 20 things to do before I turn 30." Max fired back.

"If I could I'd do it streaking, they'd be so mesmerized they'd forget to shoot" he said giving a little snigger.

"Well we'd better find a back door soon or I might just agree to your crazy plan" she paused "I'm sure there was suppose to be one around here somewhere?"

Then they both heard a snap, their eyes darting around, as they remained perfectly still, both pointing silently blaming each other for the noise, and then they heard it again. Max crouched with Thaddeus following suit using hand signals to communicate 'What do you think animal, vegetable or mineral' Thaddeus signed causing Max to huff silently he still needed to learn that there's a time and a place for kidding around and now was not it.

'Pay attention to your surroundings' she signed back 'it sounded like a foot breaking a twig'

'Army?' he silently asked.

'Sometimes you ask stupid questions you know' her hands showing her frustration.

They were both crouched leaning up against a thick tree trunk, Max timidly peeked around the girth and spied the culprit 'Yeah it's army, one silly little boy' she signed. Pointing to herself she indicated she was going to go left then told Thaddeus to go right they were going for a good old sneak, grab and disable. This was one of Thaddeus's favourite forms of entertainment it was just a shame there was only one.

Max revealed herself to the poor sap of a soldier "nice day for a walk isn't it."

The soldier turned raised his gun and yelled, "This is a restricted area."

This was Thaddeus's cue to sneak up behind the runt and cut his airway off just enough to render him unconscious. Once the soldier had crumpled to the ground Max crouched beside him and checked for a pulse "he's alive."

"Did you doubt me?" Thaddeus questioned with a smile.

"Let's just find the marker" she retorted.

Thaddeus had a scan of the area then noticed the tell tale sign etched into the tree behind Max "Gotta love Lucy" he chirped.

Max turned to see the marker I ¤ Lucy scratched into the trunk of the tree behind her "about time" she huffed as they both scrambled around in the dirt looking for the entrance to the tunnel.

"Hah" Thaddeus squeaked as he lifted the cover "ladies first" he joked allowing Max to enter the tunnel.

As they were crawling towards Seattle literally under the feet of the army in the earthy tunnel Max said to Thaddeus "remind me to get Alec to hook us up with another back door, two hours looking for one of his inane boob tube references is not my idea of fun." Thaddeus simply laughed as he crawled behind her his mind taking him to slightly dirty places involving Max and a mud fight 'such a shame she's off the market.'


Senator Druitt strutted into her office grinning widely, today had been a good day. Her staff of twenty stood around waiting to hear the news, they were on tenterhooks wanting to know whether they had a green light or not.

"It's a go people," the Senator cheerfully informed them, and without a moment's pause they revved into action "we've only got four weeks to target 99 senators and ensure a 2/3 majority, so let's get moving, we hit hard and fast, we have little room for error people" she motivated.

The Senator headed for her office with her assistant walking behind her notepad at the ready as she entered she asked her assistant to close the door then sat down at her desk.

"Jenny, get me a secure line to Seattle, we need to let them know what's going on." She quickly scanned the waiting documents on her desk "and have the background checks been completed?"

"Yes, ma'am" Jenny responded "nothing to raise suspicion"

"Keep digging, I find it hard to believe that I don't have at least one saboteur in my midst. Also get me Cecelia Briggs on the phone, she's made quite a name for herself as a lobbyist and may be interested in helping us out."


Angeline had finally reached her destination after scrounging around in a dirt tunnel for what seemed like hours, she had found it all exhilarating finally feeling as though she was apart of something. Her companion Dits had led her to a rundown room he called command where all manner of creatures filtered in and out. She suddenly felt out of her depth being jostled from side to side as people hurried past her. She clutched her knapsack to her chest weaving to find a safe corner, it was like she was involved in a dance without knowing the steps. A little guy with pointy ears tottered up to her introducing himself as Luke and she smiled warmly thinking 'finally someone whose friendly' she breathed deeply, Luke's welcome reducing her fear slightly.

"I hope you had a good trip in" Luke smiled.

"A little muddy but hey I can't complain."

"Yeah sorry about that, backdoors can be a little rough on first timers."

"So" she said getting her camera out of her knapsack "when do I get to meet the person running this show."


Alec was talking to Horatio about defences when he saw Dits walking in his direction.

"Hey Dits did the journalist make it in?"

"Yeah, it's a chick, doesn't look the type to be reporting on a war zone." Dits grunted then continued on his way.

"Does he ever smile?" Alec asked himself then turning back to Horatio "Do you ever smile?"

"Alec I'm not sure what you're asking?"

"Nobody smiles around here," he answered allowing one of his trademark grins to dominate his face "We need to do something to liven things up a bit" waving his arms around.

"We're living amongst rubble and being bombed every few days, are smiles really an issue."

Alec gave Horatio a friendly punch in the arm "smiles are every bit the issue, morale's dropping we need to give it a little kick start, I think its time for some special requisitions."

"Defences" Horatio encouraged.

"Huh?"

"We were discussing defences"

"We need to reinforce the blockade in case they decide to send in tanks again think you can handle that?"

"Leave it with me" Horatio nodded farewell before leaving to find able bodied transgenics to help him with his task.

Alec watched Horatio leave, they had an odd relationship, and at first they had remained wary of each other both driven by their affection for Max. Now they had a strange kind of truce, one thing about Horatio Alec soon realised was that he was loyal and in him Alec had found a confidant on all things except Max.

"Now for the journalist" he mused as he headed off towards command.


Max and Thaddeus were finally rid of the tunnel much to their relief and were now jogging towards command to check in. When they had first returned to Seattle Max had headed straight for Hope, which resulted in Alec reprimanding her for not following protocol. Now she checked in by yelling a very loud "I'm back" just outside the door of command before running off to find Hope.

This time was no different with "I'm back" causing Angeline to jump quite suddenly then she turned to Luke and asked "whose back?"

"Max" he simply responded "Don't worry you'll meet her sooner or later, she's gone to see her daughter."

"Where's she back from"

"She's been on the outside for 6 months now"

"Why"

"Its personal" and Luke returned to his work.

Angeline crouched in the corner she had commandeered as her own rustling through her knapsack for one of the snacks she had, greedily chomping it down trying to curb her stomach's pleas. That's when she saw him her mouth stuffed with biscuit trying to swallow and although she had yet to see his face she knew just by his presence that she was in trouble.

"Hey Luke where's the journalist" Alec requested.

"In the corner" Luke pointed.

Angeline was gulping as quickly as possible brushing the stray crumbs from her sweater, her heart jumped and her fear was realised as Alec stood in front of her grinning. She opened her mouth to speak but what she had thought came out strong and confident was more of a squeak "hello."

Alec cocked his head to the side at this strange girl "Hi, I see you came through a backdoor" he joked.

"Ah yes" she flushed rubbing at her trousers.

"Don't worry about the dirt, you'll get use to it soon enough."

Luke then interrupted "thought you'd want to know Max just checked in"

"She did" his demeanour transforming to that of an excited school boy "Sorry I'm going to have to abandon you for a bit" then he looked over at Mole "hey Mole, can you show the journalist-"

"My name's Angeline"

"Sorry, Angeline to her bunk" he then quickly sped out of command.

Mole strolled up to Angeline munching on a stogie, even in war time he still managed to get hold of his little luxury "follow me."

"Sure" she whispered beginning to think she should have listened to her parents, finishing school really hadn't prepared her for this.

As they were walking towards the shelter she would be bunking down in Mole started to give her the rules "okay, we're going to assign you an escort, who'll be responsible for keeping you alive, the last thing we need is for you to die."

"I'm not planning on doing that," she stated.

"Most human's don't" chomping on his stogie even harder "once we've got you bunked down I'll take you back to command and introduce you to the lucky sod who gets to follow you around."

"You really don't have to bother," she protested.

"We can always take you back out"

"Fine" she muttered sounding like a petulant schoolgirl and Mole smiled thinking this girl was going to be highly entertaining over the next week.


Max stopped just at the foot of the collapsed space needle taking a moment to look at her beautiful daughter standing at the top she then called out "Hope." The little girl turned to see her mother standing below her.

"Mummy" her face gleeful the breeze teasing her hair, she ran down the rubble and leapt into her mother's arms. Max hugged her close kissing every surface of her face before putting her down and crouching in front of her.

"You've gotten so big"

"I've grown a whole foot," the little girl informed while swaying on the balls of her feet.

"Just like your father, prone to exaggeration" Max smiled "God I missed you" stroking her hair.

"I missed you too mummy" she giggled then in a more solemn tone "did you bring Faith?"

"No, not this time sweetie" she caressed her daughter's face.

"Hope where are you" Layla called breaking the tender reunion.

"Over here" Hope yelled back as they watched Layla come towards them carrying Toby.

"You back" Layla smiled taking Max in an embrace.

"Hello" Max greeted while taking Toby in her arms "Hello Toby."

"Maxie" the little boy cried "do you have a present for me."

"Maybe" kissing his cheek.

"It's so good to have you back" Layla commented "Does Alec know yet."

"I'm sure he does by now, I assume news travels fast still"

"Nothing changes" and the two women laughed.

"Layla can you take Hope back to the shelter."

"Sure" Layla said reclaiming Toby and taking Hope's hand "we'll leave you be for a little bit."

Max always liked to spend a quiet moment at the space needle when she returned allowing herself to get reacquainted with an old friend. She climbed the rubble and then watched Layla drag a grumpy Hope away. She stood as Hope had looking out across what was left of Seattle from a much lower vantage point now but she still got that feeling of peace that the space needle had always given her.

Alec came and stood beside her leaning in to whisper in her ear "you're back."

"That I am" she said turning to embrace him, he lifted her off the ground and spun her around before roughly kissing her.

"You're so beautiful"

"I have dried mud on my face" using her sleeve to try and remove some of it.

He cupped her face and kissed her again "I don't care" pausing to smell her and reintroduce himself to her scent.

"Did you-"

"No, the trail went cold"

"Someday, Maxie, someday"

"I know" and they hugged tenderly before descending the rubble.

Alec led Max to their place where they would rediscover each other something that was needed after so long apart, consummating their love once more, reaffirming their commitment. It was necessary, a part of their courtship for Alec had his mate back the woman that would be a part of his soul for life.


Angeline sat in command waiting rather impatiently "How long will he be" she asked Luke again.

"It could be a few hours" he chuckled.

"Why"

"Debriefing Max usually takes a while" he was now snickering along with the rest of command.

"What's so funny?" Angeline feeling very much left out of the loop.

"Max is his mate." Luke filled in.

"Mate?"

"I suppose you'd describe it as-"

"His girlfriend," she volunteered.

"It's a little more than that," he corrected.

Angeline's heart constricted the eyes of the charismatic man she had met earlier were focused else where, and she was suffering a bad case of infatuation, deepened by the fact that she couldn't have him, not yet anyway.

TBC