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 To my faithful reviewers I love you guys to those who read and don't review tut tut but you have a chance to redeem yourself. So here's the challenge everybody that reads the very last chapter of Alec's War (chapter 25 at this stage) is strongly encouraged to review and it can be as simple as rating the story thus far out of 5. There I've made it easy for you and yes it's true I've become a review junky and I'm proud of it.
Italics = flashback
Chapter Nineteen – War Part 1"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
- Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
Someone once said that 'luck was when preparation meets opportunity' and luck was smiling down on the transgenic population. Alec had not been complacent during the siege, to the outside world it appeared that the leader of Seattle was merely waiting, inside command a different story could be told. When the tanks first took up position Alec and his war council were already one step ahead, they were prepared to dig deep. Exactly 2 years ago the finishing touches were added to a theoretical offensive strike on the ordinary army, one that Alec had hoped he would never have to use. There was now only one change to the plan and that was the acceptable number of fatalities.
Unbeknownst to the human army and General Farr the transgenic nation had been observing, gathering Intel and forming a strategy. The transgenics had long ago been ready to take on the ordinaries but at Alec's insistence had held back but tomorrow brought about a new game plan along with a new day.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, in a corner of the backroom in command, Alec sat nibbling his thumb and reviewing the multitude of Intel they had gathered during the siege. He was being pernickety ensuring that nothing unforseen would happen tomorrow, you wouldn't know it to look at him but he was a perfectionist. Mole walked in to check on the secluded leader.
"You really should get some fresh air" Mole encouraged.
"No time for that buddy" Alec continued nibbling his thumb while Mole leaned up against the wall "has the evacuation started?"
"Yes, you know evacuating a thousand people is going to require a miracle."
"Their defences to the north have always been sloppy. Who would've thought we'd end up using Logan's gift."
"This was bound to happen sooner or later" Mole chomped.
"I would have preferred it never happen, why are ordinaries so stubborn?"
"It's one of those questions we'll never answer."
"Is Fizz loitering?"
"Yes, when doesn't he! Want me to go get him?"
"Yes" and Mole departed to retrieve the hyperactive X7.
Alec returned to the paperwork covering the space around him, his face confident his thoughts betraying him, bad feelings allowed to surface. He wasn't only worried with acceptable ordinary casualties but also how many of them would die, and the darker question 'would he live through tomorrow.'
Fizz stood in the doorway watching his leader an expression of awe and admiration on his face, Alec represented what he hoped he would become. He scuffed his foot on the ground not sure whether to interrupt the man he secretly worshipped.
"Thanks for coming Fizz" Alec whispered breaking the silence.
"Sure thing."
"I'm evacuating you."
Fizz entered the room in protest "you can't do that, I want to fight!"
"I know you do but I have something more important I need you to do."
"What's more important than standing on the battlefield with you?"
"Protecting my family" Alec informed him.
Fizz was taken aback and somewhat confused not able to grasp why he would be given this strange honour.
"Why me?"
"Because I know I can trust you and that you will protect them. I need to know they're safe Fizz, I can't fight and worry about them."
"I understand, when do I leave?"
"Be at the evacuation rally point in an hour" Fizz turned to leave "Fizz."
"Yes."
"Thank you."
Fizz departed taking a secret admiring look at the man he had looked up to for so long his heart heavy at the thought he might never see him again, vowing to himself that no harm would come to this man's family.
Senator Druitt was slowly awakening after surgery to retrieve the bullet that had be lodged in her left shoulder. She was in a daze, confused as to where she was trying to removed the various tubes and gadgets attached to her body.
"Senator, please calm down" a nurse urged.
"Where am I?" Senator Druitt almost cried out.
"In the hospital, you suffered a gunshot wound."
"I was shot!" she gasped sitting up abruptly.
"You're fine, they removed the bullet and you suffered a broken leg when you fell down the stairs."
"When can I leave?"
"You've just gotten out of surgery?"
""I have to go" Senator Druitt reiterated as she tried to get out of bed.
"Senator please" The nurse said more forcefully trying to ease her back down.
"Where's Jenny?"
"Whose Jenny?"
"My assistant, get me Jenny!"
Max stood atop the rubble of the space needle, her old sanctuary. She stared out at the ruins of Seattle the city that had been her home for so long, the tragedy of its appearance not lost on her. She was fearful of tomorrow that in an hour would become today, her heart constricting every time her thoughts went to the possibility of losing him. Thaddeus saw her standing there and joined her, not so high but high enough.
"Hey Max."
"Thaddeus" she whispered turning to face him "I wish you could have seen the city before all this" she waved her hand out over her home.
"You know when we rebuild, it'll be even better than what is was before."
"Always the optimist" then changing the subject "Do you have your orders?"
"Yes."
Max grabbed him clinging for dear life "stay safe."
"Max, when I suggested streaking across the battlefield I never really intended to."
She smiled "I know, its just some of us, maybe a lot of us are going to die tomorrow."
"I can assure you I plan on not being one of them" he tenderly caressed her hair "even if I did cark it I'd still haunt you from the grave!"
"Don't even joke about it" Concern sweeping across her face as she pulled away from him giving her room to slap his shoulder.
"We'll see each other on the other side Max, we haven't run our course yet."
She nodded "I best get back to medical and the girls" she softly touched his cheek "I owe you so much."
"I know you do," he whispered squeezing her hand before leaving her once more alone with her old friend before she to departed.
Seattle was a buzz of activity, everyone busily preparing for the new day that would hail in their final stand. Thousands were readying themselves for the battle ahead and all were saying goodbyes in one form or another. None essential personnel, children and those unable to fight were slowly being evacuated in small numbers the last departing before those left behind would make the assault on the ordinary stronghold.
All transgenics had been created for this purpose, to fight the impossible fight, all they had was luck and the gifts bestowed on them by their creators. Manmade weapons not enough to support their numbers, some would be fighting with their wits and bare fists.
Alec holstered his gun in the belt of his jeans and exited the back room it was time to say goodbye to Max and the girls and he could no longer stall time once again being cruel, how was he going to be able to say goodbye to those most precious to him. He nodded to Luke and Mole not needing to tell them where he was going for they knew by the slump of his shoulders. He headed for the medical building where Max and the girls would be, silently preparing himself for the war ahead with Max for she still assumed that they would be staying amongst the rubble.
He strode into the medical building to see Max sitting and the girls playing in the corner, he sat down beside his mate and grasped her hand.
"It's chaos out there" she commented offhandedly.
"Max, we need to talk" he used his free hand to run his fingers through his hair alerting Max to his worry.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm evacuating you and the girls" he declared time not giving him the opportunity to mess around.
Max rose abruptly whipping her hand out of his "You're doing what!" her displeasure at the news apparent.
"Max don't fight me on this."
"I said I wouldn't be in the fight that didn't mean I'd agree to leave Seattle."
Alec rose to stare her down "Max, what if the ordinaries manage to get into the city?"
"Of course they won't."
"You don't know that."
"Don't you have faith in our people to hold the line?" she muttered angrily.
"Faith has nothing to do with this, there is no certainty."
"I'm not going."
"Max be reasonable."
"I am being reasonable" She folded her arms.
"What if ordinaries with guns storm into the building you and the girls are in?"
She paused trying to think up a counter argument to his "Then I'll do what I was trained to do."
"Max" he whispered placing his hands gently on her shoulders "it's too dangerous for them to stay here and you know that" his gaze falling on their daughters.
"I know" she sighed defeated "I just don't know if I can do it Alec."
"Of course you can, you're the bravest person I know."
"How long have we got?"
"An hour."
Max slumped back in her chair trying not to breakdown, to show her fear at being separated yet again. Alec knelt in front of her holding her face in his strong capable hands "Its going to be alright" he reassured.
"What if-"
"Don't say it Max, there is no what if. When I see you again nothing will ever keep us apart."
She touched his face "I hope you're right?"
"When have I been wrong?"
Max smiled "Your past track record isn't going to ease my fear Alec."
"Good point" he smiled back happy to see her spirits raised ever so slightly.
"Will we ever have a peaceful life?"
"One day we will, with our children and eventual grandchildren. We're going to grow old together Maxie."
"I don't know what I would do without you" she leant into him and held him tight finding it rather difficult to bring herself to let go.
"We've got to get to the evacuation point" he stated as he removed Max's grip on him and stood up then extended his hands to help her up also, even though she didn't really need it.
"Come on girls, mummy's taking you on an adventure."
Hope and Faith abandoned the game they had been playing to join their parents each taking a hand and being led out of the medical building.
"Where are we going daddy?" Faith asked.
"Canada."
"Canada?" Max asked with surprise.
"Logan left me a farm up there, we've had a small contingent stationed there for a little over a year in case this scenario ever happened."
"We're hiking to Canada. How is that less dangerous than staying here, and why didn't I know about the farm?"
"Max" Alec warned not wanting the last moments together marred by argument.
"How long are we to stay in Canada" Max asked resigned.
"Until it's safe to return."
"Daddy, what's Canada like?" Hope asked.
"I don't know I've never been there."
"Cold" Max informed her daughter "We're going to need their jumpers."
"We'll stop by Sandeman's quickly."
The girls skipped a short way ahead as the family made their way to Sandeman's house before their final destination which would see them separated once more.
"Alec, I'm afraid" Max confessed, something that was out of her character.
"So am I" he responded mirroring her fear and as Alec and the girls watched Max enter Sandeman's to gather a few items Alec wasn't sure he'd be able to let them go.
Jenny stood by Senator Druitt's bed, notepad in hand frantically scribbling the Senator's instructions. The Senator still hadn't decided whether or not the bullet was meant to kill her or simply remove her from the equation temporarily. Whatever the answer it had her rattled but not enough to sway her from doing what needed to be done. Against all the doctors' advice she would be leaving the hospital in two days in time for the vote. Jenny was her only link with what was going on and as the Senator began to feel more out of control Jenny bore the grunt of her frustration.
"Did you get all that" the Senator spat out.
"Yes Senator, I'll get right on it."
"Then move!" Jenny looked distraught and quickly departed the Senator's room, the poor assistant continually telling herself that the Senator didn't mean her cruelness.
The evacuation point was crowded with all those heading out through the northern most back door. It was chaotic and a frantic mood hung in the air.
Fizz jogged over when he saw Alec approaching "everything ready?" he asked.
"What's Fizz doing here?" Max asked.
"He's accompanying you."
"Alec we don't need a bodyguard."
"It's more for me than for you."
"Is there a problem?" Fizz threw into the conversation.
"Yes" Max said.
"No" Alec counteracted.
"Well, we're in the next group, we have to be in the tunnel in 20 minutes."
"That's not enough time" Max wailed quietly.
Alec bent down and scooped Hope and Faith into a hug "be good for mummy and do everything she tells you okay."
"Okay" both girls, whispered the vibe from their parents saturating them but they were both determined to be brave.
"I love you both so much and I'll see you soon." He kissed them both then let them go abruptly afraid if he held them a second longer he couldn't let go he then turned to Max, the woman he had spent so little time with and now wished that time would stand still.
"I don't want to say goodbye" Max spoke first.
"It's not goodbye remember" Alec said with his charming wit.
"Hold me," she demanded through her silent tears and he willingly obliged.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear and she hid the few tears that managed to escape in the knap of his neck, then removed herself from his arms.
"I love you too."
Madness ensued as Fizz brought them back down to earth "We've got to go Max" he insisted, both girls each holding one of his hands. He started to slowly push his way through the crowd of people to the tunnel exit, Max following behind him her eyes never leaving Alec's as she was jostled by the throng, panic beginning to rise as he began to disappear from view and all her courage seeped away.
"Fizz keep going" she hollered as she made her way back.
"Where are you going?" he shouted to Max's retreating body.
Max didn't think she could do it, desperately trying to make her way back to Alec pushing her way through the unforgiving crowd. She was struggling to hold it together and when she saw him her heart stopped momentarily. Alec saw her and ran over.
"Max what is it, you've got to go" desperation in his voice.
"I don't think I can Alec" she silently begged with her eyes for him to let them stay.
"You have to Max" and then he leaned in and kissed her brutally with an intense passion that she returned and as soon as it had begun he forced himself to break away whispering "now go" and as she turned she mouthed 'I love you' before disappearing back into the throng and away from Alec's seeking eyes.
He felt empty as he walked back to command, dawn would be upon them in five hours, tomorrow had sneakily become today. His mind wondered to the possibility that this may be his last day and he allowed himself a moment to look around at the beauty that surrounded him. Despite the destruction Seattle was still beautiful and would always be to Alec's eyes for it was the city that showed him freedom.
War, a dirty word that is used too often, the siege of Seattle had been a war likened to World War I and the trenches, a stand off with no side gaining any ground. The American war machine was predictable, routined and unable to adapt. The transgenic nation was preparing to play dirty shoving aside the etiquette of human war, tradition having no place on the battlefield. On a brisk winter's morning the transgenics would make their last stand, and as their battle cry hung on the air bringing their foe quivering to its knees blood would intermingle with tears at the tragedy of it all.
TBC
A/N hands up if you're emotional mine's hitting the ceiling
